Portsmouth confirm transfer embargo

28 October 2009 13:56
Portsmouth have confirmed they have been hit with a transfer embargo from the Premier League for failing to pay money owed to other clubs.[LNB] The embargo means Paul Hart will be unable to bring any new players in to Fratton Park until further notice as he seeks to save the troubled club from relegation. The south coast club are confident the embargo will not be in place for long, though.[LNB] Portsmouth director of communications Gary Double said: "This concerns unpaid money to other clubs and it is in the process of being sorted. We are confident the situation will be sorted by the end of the week."[LNB] The transfers involved are believed to be Lassana Diarra's move from Arsenal in January 2008 and Glen Johnson's signing from Chelsea in August 2007.[LNB] Both players have since left the club, Diarra moving to Real Madrid and Johnson to Liverpool.[LNB] It is believed the situation could even be resolved as soon as Wednesday.[LNB] Saudi businessman Ali Al-Faraj bought 90% of Portsmouth from former owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim earlier this month after he failed to raise the cash needed to pay the players' September wages.[LNB] Further questions have since been asked about the club's finances after Israeli mogul Levi Kushnir and Hong Kong-based Balram Chainrai emerged as potential investors in the club.[LNB] They have been linked with making a £15million loan, which would be secured against Pompey's assets.

Source: Eurosport