At the end of last week, the Daily Star reported that Massimo Cellino could escape an FA sanction over payments made to an unlicensed individual in the case concerning the transfer of Ross McCormack to Fulham.
This related back to May 17 this year, when the FA issued a statement that charged Leeds United and Massimo Cellino for breaching Football Association agent regulations over irregularities in the transfer of Scotland forward Ross McCormack from Leeds to Fulham on 8 July 2014.
The wording of the charge said: “Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino and authorised agent Derek Day have also been charged for breaching FA Rules and The FA’s Football Agent Regulations respectively, in relation to the same matter.”
The Star then went on to say that, according to their Starsport sources, has withdrawn the statement that he provided the FA with “over unpaid expenses.” Bean insists that the FA agreed to reimburse him for the usual costs of travel, time and hotel but have since reneged on this deal, the Star saying that Bean is now “taking legal action against the FA.” This subject was broached by BBC Radio Leeds’ Adam Pope, who tweeted the following.
I have spoken to Bean who says the FA have not paid him his travel, accommodation & loss of earnings despite the FA agreeing to do so. #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) October 28, 2016
The Star went on to say that Leeds United had been informed of the development, a development which could very well leave club owner Massimo Cellino with no case to answer. When Adam Pope contacted Leeds United on this matter, the club refused to issue a cooment as per the following tweet.
I've spoken to Leeds United tonight re the Bean/FA issue & they say there is no comment to make & all the focus is on the Burton game. #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) October 28, 2016
However, on his timeline today, Graham Bean reutes the Star’s version of events – effectively blowing their story out of the water. From his protected account, which means that Tweets cannot be linked to or retweeted, Bean begins by saying: “Calm down all. Been told my evidence stands. My dispute with the FA is separate private uissue and will be dealt with as such. Crisis over!”
That is more than a poke in the eye for the Star’s Starsport sources who claimed that Bean had withdrawn his statement, much more. The refutation from Bean continues with him detailing that his evidence to the FA “took over 4 hours” and then continues to say something that will turn the Star’s story on its head.
Bean, speaking about the FA case itself said: “Also told from a very reliable source that the FA reached a decision on the MC issue some weeks ago. But waiting for date to issue sanctions,” adding in another tweet that, “due to sensitivity FA keeping it all under the radar until relevant parties informed of fate.”
With these rebuttals from Graham Bean, the Star’s story and ‘sources’ informing their Starsport section, seemingly has no substance other than bad links between one instance, Bean in dispute with the FA, and a second instance, of Bean being involved in an FA investigation of Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino. A classic case of 2 + 2 = whatever you want?
Could Massimo Cellino’s teflon-coating be showing signs of wear with regard to this case?
