By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – FIFA’s determination to crack down on illegal activities by agents has been illustrated by Brazilian Renato de Moura Ricardo being fined SFR 7,000 by the world governing body’s Disciplinary Committee, the second time in two weeks FIFA has enforced its rules following last week’s sanctioning of CA Independiente of Argentina and Genoa CFC of Italy for misuse of the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS).
Brazilian Renato de Moura Ricardo was found guilty of violating regulations in relation to the July 2008 transfer of goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven to Tottenham Hotspur.
Few details of the exact violation have been disclosed such as whether third party ownership – rife in South America – was involved. But Renato has also been ordered to pay costs for the case which was referred by the English FA to FIFA in June 2011.
“In addition, Mr Renato de Moura Ricardo has been issued with a warning…and also informed that a further breach of the players’ agents regulations will result in more severe sanctions to be determined by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which can lead to a suspension or even a withdrawal of the players’ agent licence,” a FIFA statement said.
Gomes, who cost Tottenham £10m, moved on loan last month to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for the rest of the season after finding himself relegated to third choice at the north London club.
Another agent, Leon Angel, was given a similar punishment and warning by FIFA last week as part of the same case but has vowed to appeal against claims he too breached regulations.
Angel said: “It is a technical breach on an administrative matter and we are appealing against it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It’s actually nothing to do with us – the transfer was performed by a Brazilian agent who did not fill in a form.”
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