Bolton at centre of BBC bung allegations

Posted by DavidM in Bolton | 21 September 2006

After all the build up I watched the BBC Panorama programme on corruption in football with baited breath.

On the one hand, it met expectations with the level of corruption the agents in particular claimed took place. On the other, there wasn't clear cut proof in the form of a manager (or indeed anyone) taking a bung on camera.

I have yet to talk to a football fan who doesn't believe there are corrupt managers in the game. With so much money sloshing around and power being wielded by so few, it would hardly be surprising. But if there are senior figures taking backhanders, they must be doing it carefully else there would have been more than the one example of George Graham getting caught.

Fans have commented on Teamtalk asking why Panorama picked on Allardyce and bleeped out other mangers' names. It's obvious. The BBC could only broadcast names where it felt it had a decent level of proof. If it broadcast the allegations made by agents without substantiating them, the BBC would be open for libel lawsuits.

So the focus was on Allardyce as they had film of the agent and Big Sam's son talking about him. Again though, there was no film of Allardyce taking a bung or stating he wanted or would accept one.

The film leaves the FA in a tricky position. It will have reinforced most people's opinion that football is rotten, but doesn't provide sufficient evidence - unless the BBC have further details on tape that weren't shown - for a clear-cut case.

It seems Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle are going to avoid any penalties for tapping up Middlesborough's Nathan Porritt. Also appears the FA feel harry did nothing wrong.

And Sam? I'm sure there'll be some words said behind closed doors but as long as the results keep coming I'd be surprised to see him lose his job. It could, however, further dent any chance of him ever being England manager.

The most likely outcome is that the agents featured will be targeted and punished - probably losing their licenses - and the FA will claim a job well done.

But in the end, the fans' suspicions will remain and their faith in the FA eroded further.