Transfer embargo adds to Pompey plight
Portsmouth’s turbulent season continued to unravel after the Premier League confirmed today that a transfer embargo has been imposed on the beleaguered club.
In the latest astonishing development at Fratton Park, Portsmouth were handed the sanction on October 15 for failing to pay money owed to other English clubs.
Manager Paul Hart is unable to recruit any new players until further notice, though Portsmouth are confident the embargo will be lifted by the end of the week.
The Premier League reportedly blocked Hart’s attempt to complete the emergency signing of free agent Eugen Bopp on Monday because of their debts.
A Premier League statement read: “We have placed a player registration embargo on Portsmouth.
“The embargo was imposed on 15 October 2009 and it means the club will be unable to bring any new players to Fratton Park until further notice.
“Premier League rules allow the board to act if a club has outstanding transfer fees due to other clubs.”
The transfers that have resulted in the restriction are believed to be Lassana Diarra’s move from Arsenal in January 2008 and Glen Johnson’s signing from Chelsea in August 2007.
Both players have since left Fratton Park, Diarra moving to Real Madrid and Johnson joining Liverpool.
The worst-case scenario would see the transfer ban extend into the January window, a time when the Premier League’s bottom-placed club will be hoping to capture much-needed reinforcements.
However, Portsmouth believe the embargo will be lifted far sooner.
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.”
It is an extraordinary twist to a shambolic season that has seen Portsmouth lurch from one disaster to another.
On the pitch they have made the worst start in Premier League history, a scenario made possible by the sale of their best players and the signing of a collection of unknowns.
At boardroom level they have been struck by a farcical ownership saga that has seen Saudi businessman Ali Al-Faraj become the latest figure cloaked in mystery to assume control.
Al-Faraj bought 90% from former owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim earlier this month after he failed to raise the cash needed to pay the players’ September wages.
But 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.
They have been linked with making a £15m (€16.7m) loan, which would be secured against Pompey’s assets.
Al Fahim’s investment group – Al-Fahim Asia Associates Ltd. (AAA) – only completed their takeover of the club in August, but his brief time in charge was beset by financial problems.
Hart must feel fate is conspiring against him after today’s events completely overshadowed a rare moment of satisfaction at Fratton Park – last night’s 4-0 demolition of Stoke.
Portsmouth may prop up the Premier League table with just one victory in 10 matches, but they marched into the Carling Cup quarter-finals with an impressive rout of their top-flight rivals.
Striker Danny Webber, one of three goalscorers, has been amazed by the way that Hart has dealt with the pressure amid constant speculation over his future.
“The gaffer has been top class. I think lesser people would have crumbled with what has been going on here,” said Webber.
“He has kept the camp very happy and very motivated. He has kept the belief going that we can get out of the situation we are in.
“If anything, the belief has got stronger with the more adversity we have had to deal with.”
Stoke boss Tony Pulis was pleased for the opportunity to give Tuncay and Mamady Sidibe a run out.
“Sidibe has been out for seven or eight months with a cruciate knee ligament injury. He came on and looked smashing,” he said.
“Tuncay looks like he’s getting fit, which is a big bonus for us because he’s a big player. Those are the positives.”
