Source: Daily_Mail
Bryan Robson seeking legal advice over Dispatches allegations
Bryan Robson has confirmed he is taking legal advice over the Channel 4 Dispatches programme in which he is alleged to have offered businessmen advice about getting around strict rules on football ownership. [LNB]The Football Association are monitoring footage before deciding whether to take any action against Robson and his position as a Manchester United ambassador has been called into question. [LNB]On camera, Robson claims: 'I disagree with people when they say football is a sport. Football lost its sporting thing when the money started coming in and Sky TV and all that. Football's a business.'[LNB] United front: Bryan Robson addresses a fans' rally in Seattle before Sir Alex Ferguson's side beat the Sounders[LNB]Robson was also acting as an advisor to London Nominees Football Fund - a group that invests in 'football clubs, players, franchises, merchandising and sponsorship'. [LNB]London Nominees were offering to broker the purchase of a club in exchange for a 20 per cent stake and a five percent management fee. [LNB]Robson met what turned out to be a team of undercover reporters alongside his then boss, Joe Sim, chief advisor to the Thailand FA and also involved with London Nominees.[LNB] Sim boasted of his friendship with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, showed mobile phone pictures of the two together and claimed he could get the Scot to loan players once a club had been bought.[LNB] Nice touch: Seattle Sounders owner Joe Roth presents Robson with a golden scarf[LNB]Ferguson's lawyers have already distanced the Manchester United manager from the programme, claiming Sim has vastly overestimated their relationship. [LNB]Now Robson has had his say and is clearly intent on defending himself in the strongest possible terms. [LNB]'I am aware of (but have not yet seen) the Channel 4 production - Dispatches - How to Buy a Football Club,' said the former England captain. [LNB]'I have seen certain newspaper articles written about it and I would like to make certain things clear. [LNB]'I am an advisor to the London Nominees Football Fund and was engaged to provide advice and assistance on the football side of investments only. [LNB]'While it may have been unwise to enter into discussions with unknown parties, much of the footage of me is unrepresentative of the views I expressed during the course of the meeting and has been presented in a way that is totally out of its context. [LNB]'The journalists were repeatedly told by me and others that owning multiple clubs was a breach of the rules and could not be done. [LNB]'I am appalled to learn that footage has been edited to suggest that I was involved in an attempt to try and breach these rules - which is something I would not do. [LNB] 'This entire episode is yet another example of some representatives of the media behaving in a totally unacceptable way in the manner in which they obtain and then present information. [LNB]'As a result of this, I am taking legal advice on the way forward.'[LNB] Robson is in Seattle and was accompanied by Red Devils chief executive David Gill in addressing home supporters before their traditional March to the Match.[LNB] Advice: Robson is consulting his lawyers over the Channel 4 Dispatches programme[LNB]The Premier League champions were too good for the Sounders, winning 7-0 with Wayne Rooney scoring a 21-minute hat-trick.[LNB]Meanwhile, Leicester have distanced themselves from any dealings with Sim.[LNB]A statement on City's official website read: 'Leicester City Football Club and the club's owners, Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, can unequivocally clarify that Joe Sim was not linked to the purchase of Leicester City by Asia Football Investments, nor has he had any involvement with, or authority to comment on any subsequent Leicester City business.[LNB]'Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn have met Joe Sim, through his role as chief advisor to the Thai FA, but reiterate that in no way has Mr Sim had any involvement with Leicester City Football Club.[LNB]'Leicester City Football Club and its owners are committed to absolute transparency in every aspect of its operations and activities.'[LNB]The Thai-based Asia Football Investments consortium, fronted by Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, bought the npower Championship club in August 2010.[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMERobbo TV sting: United legend under fire in clubs-for-sale investigationFA to study tapes from Bryan Robson TV sting before deciding whether to punish himCharles Sale: Sir Dave's part in Robson Thai-up revealedSeattle Sounders 0 Man United 7: Rooney bags hat-trick in Red Devils rout All the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion [LNB]
