O’Neill wins damages over BBC’s agent claims

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill has won “substantial” damages from the BBC over claims he “exploited the loose disciplines of football” over transfer deals.

The publishing arm of the broadcasting corporation, BBC Worldwide, alleged in publicity for a book that the Hoops’ boss had shares in a football agent business.

One of the authors of the book also claimed he had dealt in its players while a shareholder.

But, at the High Court in London, the BBC accepted this was untrue and apologised for the claims.

Mr O’Neill’s solicitor Paul Hackney said his client had agreed to accept a formal apology and “substantial damages” from the BBC and Richard McIlroy.

He was one of the authors of the book Football Confidential 2, a follow-up to a series of programmes on Radio Five Live entitled On the Line.

The book alleged that O’Neill was one of 10 managers with shares in the ProActive Sports Group, which represents a number of high-profile players.

It was also claimed that Mr O’Neill’s lawyers had tried to suppress the release of the information about his shareholding.

Mr McIlroy gave an interview claiming the Celtic manager had “dealt in” players represented by ProActive while he was a shareholder.

A press release issued by the BBC suggested that he had “exploited the loose disciplines of football” through his shareholding.

O’Neill’s solicitor Hackney said: “Martin O’Neill is very pleased that he has been able to clear his name.

“While he understands that the media have a duty to investigate potential conflicts of interest, it has always been his case that he was unfairly singled out by the On the Line team, both at the time of the Radio Five broadcast in 2002 and especially in the book of the series published last year.”