Premier League - Spurs report clubs for tapping up

Eurosport - Sat, 19 Jul 14:13:00 2008

Tottenham have lodged an official complaint to the Premier League regarding Manchester United and Liverpool's public interest in their strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.

FOOTBALL: Tottenham Hotspur strikers Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov - 0

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed United have made a bid for Berbatov and eventually expects the deal to go through.

Spurs have also been angered by the comments of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who went public last week by revealing Republic of Ireland captain Keane as a target.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy issued the following statement on his club's official website: "Today's public comments by Manchester United's manager, announcing that he has made an offer for Dimitar and is confident that the deal will go through with time working in their favour, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players.

"It is also probably one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date and is unbelievably hypocritical given his recent comments in respect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

"This comes after a series of events, dating back to last summer, which have shown Manchester United to be in breach of Premier League rules.

"As a result, we have today made an official complaint to the Premier League about the conduct of Manchester United.

"Benitez made similar comments in respect of Robbie recently and we made an official complaint to the Premier League about the conduct of Liverpool earlier this week.

"The behaviour of both clubs has been disgraceful. We told both clubs very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar, respectively, and that they should refrain from pursuing the player.

"Both clubs arrogantly chose to ignore this request and we now have evidence that both clubs have systematically been working to prise the players away from us, outside of Premier League rules of conduct.

"Our subsequent position has been severely compromised by both clubs making their intentions widely known and indeed making contact with the players and their agents, without the club's permission.

"I have absolutely no wish to sell either player and to date we have not accepted any offer for either.

"However, when a player's head is turned and their commitment is absent, particularly when they occupy key positions such as that of striker, they become a negative influence in a team dressing room in which they were once a positive addition and influence.

"This is the situation we now have on our hands, with both Dimitar and Robbie having made it clear that they wish to leave for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

"Irrespective of the outcome and futures of Robbie and Dimitar, we are continuing to seek to bring in quality, talented players for the future, who want to play in a Spurs shirt."

Benitez and Spurs have clashed before, in March 2006, when the Liverpool boss claimed Spurs were "desperate" to sell Jermain Defoe and take Djibril Cisse.

It led to Benitez's professionalism being questioned by Spurs officials, and the latest fall-out is unlikely to help the relationship between the clubs.

Aston Villa had already been upset this summer by Benitez's comments regarding Gareth Barry's potential move to Anfield.

TEAMtalk / Eurosport

Comment 68 - 87 of 87

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  1. at anfeild robbie has no place.we nd sbody,whom we expect goal s all the time bt kean cant make itt,i preffer crouch though he was sold.we no longer need mediacres at anfield as we the 5th CHAMPS of eufa.

    pool forever.with God we ll never walk alone.
    mutebi m ronnie,kampala -ug

    From mutebironnie2007, on Mon 21 Jul 3:45PM
  2. does anybody no de latest news on de keane to liverpool transfer???are they gona buy him r wat????

    From dwayne, on Mon 21 Jul 12:07AM
  3. stop your balling dont tell me and all the fans just do what you think and spit your suger dummey out baby o.k mone mone mone you get paid to MONE dont you BABY GET A LIFE CRYER

    From BARBARA M, on Sun 20 Jul 11:15AM
  4. stop your balling dont tell me and all the fans just do what you think and spit your suger dummey out baby

    From BARBARA M, on Sun 20 Jul 11:07AM
  5. well done levy for reporting these clubs, lets see what happens. they blatantly tapped the players up. i like the way berba and keane let it be known they wish to leave but will not hand in a transfer request as they will lose money. their greed is sickening. get rid of the mugs and buy new blood i say. spurs have been good for these players and i will die laughing if they fail to cut it and end up on the bench for the big games.

    From Barry O, on Sat 19 Jul 4:22PM
  6. berba has been un happy for ages spurs are just being stupid these players are 2 big for there crapy little club

    From nugent360, on Sat 19 Jul 3:03PM
  7. This is a stupid move by Tottenham they won't get anything out of it, so far LFC have only confirmed they're interested in Keane. MUFC are also allowed to make as any bids as they want for Berby, its not against the law, if Tottenham want to keep him they just keep going instead of wasting their time by confronting the Premier League! Keane said he wanted to move to LFC because it was his boyhood dream and Tottenham have even confirmed a £20million asking price, this is very unreasonable and a dumb move by TFC.

    From clivewilliamson, on Sat 19 Jul 2:07PM
  8. Berba finally to MANUTD and Levy's complaining and wining just won't do this time

    From elamikotio, on Sat 19 Jul 1:50PM
  9. it was only a month ago that alex ferguson moaned about real madrid with ronaldo now he is doin exactly the same with berbatov its a case of wats gud 4 fergie isnt gud 4 every1 else. i think robbie wont go t liverpool he wont get half as much playin time there he will b sat on the bench while torres plays up there all on his own.

    From scottberba, on Sat 19 Jul 1:07PM
  10. Out of the two Jabbs J,spurs have to keep Keane.He's been the best player for a number of seasons.Every chairman is under pressure,with a bad attitude my friend.If he has proof of taping up as did arsenal against chelsea,then i hope both teams in question are punished.

    From MrScary, on Sat 19 Jul 12:58PM
  11. Levi is under pressure! But what a bad attitude by him! For sure berba will go, for keane i dunno but 20 mil for hi, si alot so..

    From Jabss J, on Sat 19 Jul 12:50PM
  12. Jason T it was palace who went to the tribunal.I agree about respect for other clubs,but a matter of respect should apply to all clubs,including the top four we can do what we want teams.
    If these deals go through,we may see Bostock in the first team!

    From MrScary, on Sat 19 Jul 12:46PM
  13. If these transfers do happen and Berba goes to man u,how long would the fans and manager put up with his sulking when things get tough?
    Why is Keane thinking he will get more playing time at liverpool with rafa's daft rotation policy?
    Sometimes the grass in not greener on the other side,but the money is is'nt it?

    From MrScary, on Sat 19 Jul 12:39PM
  14. ah ok MrScary, I didnt realise the full story. Serves Palace right then if thats the case. Although who went to tribunal Palace or Spurs? I also think as a matter of respect and reality Spurs should have offered maybe a little more due to the potential and ability of Bostock, but such is life, and sometimes there does need to be a price cap but not until its across the board. Its a shame really because Bostock may well rot in the reserves and never make his full potential, I hope not because he is English future.

    From Jason T, on Sat 19 Jul 12:39PM
  15. Mr levy, wait a second, are you trying to bolster your asking prices for both players because this your ranting all in the name of breach of conduct by both clubs only sounds as usual 'the normal practice' in the business to get the best possible deal. It's high time you guys in the helm of affairs stopped fooling your supporters because they are not as stupid as you guys think. just get on with your business and stop all the gimmicks!!

    From onwainlondon, on Sat 19 Jul 12:33PM
  16. Re Jason T
    Spurs made an offer of 2-3 miilion pounds to Palace for Bostock.Palace wanted more,and chose to go to a tribunal,who then set the fee of seven hundred thousand.Spurs did nothing wrong.Palace are the bottoms for trying to be clever.

    From MrScary, on Sat 19 Jul 12:31PM
  17. RE Maliyke74
    There has never been negotiation between spurs,man u and liverpool.Don't belive the press.If a club says no,buying clubs should not behave in this manner.No fee was ever agreed.I get my info from the official website,not the tabloids,never have.I suggest everyone else does the same.Press and media are scum.

    From MrScary, on Sat 19 Jul 12:27PM
  18. man united

    From sohieliqbal, on Sat 19 Jul 12:16PM
  19. I still think that the shrewd manager of Manchster City,,no United... is going for Etoo and pretending it to be Berbatov... lets face it.... Berbatov added to already a very good attacking list wouldn't affect it that much... Tevez and Berba could do equal things.. but Etoo would turn Man U's attack into well probably even the very best..., just as if Rooney had been added to Barca's.

    :)

    From moon2309, on Sat 19 Jul 11:57AM
  20. Spurs are just crying over split milk. They know it we know it they want to sell but for more. United will drag the deal till the last week of the transfer market and the take the boy for some few pounds. that is just business nothing personal. Ramos shape up. remember West ham and Carlos Tevez. It won't be any diferrent. If Real want CR let them work harder put a real bid and the transaction will begin. Watch out 4 new season MAN U rules.

    From mucfred20, on Sat 19 Jul 11:55AM
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