F.A. Premiership 2009/2010

[abadani69]

Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson would be interested in talking to Newcastle about the vacant manager's job.

There has been no contact between the Magpies and the Swede's representatives in the wake of Glenn Roeder's departure.

However, his agent Athole Still has revealed the job at St. James' Park is just the kind he would seriously consider.

Eriksson fared well in a phone poll of fans carried out by Newcastle-based radio station Metro. Although he is not understood to figure high on chairman Freddy Shepherd's shortlist, which is topped by overwhelming favorite Sam Allardyce with Lyon manager Gerard Houllier emerging as a surprise candidate Wednesday.

"There has been no contact whatsoever, but if Newcastle were interested in Sven-Goran Eriksson, I am sure Sven-Goran Eriksson would be interested in talking to Newcastle," Still told PA SportsTicker.

Only last month, Shepherd dismissed speculation Eriksson was being lined up to replace Roeder. However, the 51-year-old's resignation on Sunday saw Allardyce swiftly installed as the main contender with most bookmakers suspending betting.

Allardyce's own departure from Bolton with two years of left on his contract means there is an issue of compensation, and that could yet prove to be a stumbling block. Allegations made against him - which he strongly denied - by the Panorama bungs program are a further complicating factor.

Eriksson's pedigree means the link is inevitable, although Shepherd has repeatedly played down an interest in the man who quit as England manager after last summer's World Cup finals.

He has been touted for virtually every high-profile job which has come up since, although he is awaiting the right opportunity.

"Sven is very keen to get back into club football and he would be interested in talking to any club which had real ambition," Still said.

[abadani69]

وزير ورزش مالزي از كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا (اي.اف.سي) خواست در مورد تور آسيايي تيم فوتبال منچستريونايتد انگليس به اين كشور تجديد نظر كند.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از كوالالامپور، "آزالينا عثمان سعيد" گفت، از اي.اف.سي كه مالزي را براي لغو سفر منچستريونايتد به اين كشور در جريان برگزاري جام ملت*هاي آسيا تحت فشار قرار داده است، انتظار شفقت بيشتري دارد.

وي اظهار داشت: اين مسئله را درك مي*كنم كه احترام بسياري براي تصميم و دلايل كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا قائلم اما انتظار داشتم با دلسوزي بيشتري تصميم*گيري مي*شد.

مقامات فوتبال آسيا سال گذشته توافقنامه*اي را با اي.اف.سي امضا كردند كه بر اساس آن در جريان برگزاري مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا نبايد مسابقات ديگري در اين كشور برگزار شود.

جام ملت*هاي آسيا تابستان سال جاري به ميزباني مشترك چهار كشور مالزي، اندونزي، ويتنام و تايلند برگزار مي*شود.

آزالينا افزود: حضور تيم قهرمان ليگ برتر انگليس تاثير بسياري بر جذب گردشگر در مالزي دارد. امساس پنجاهمين سال استقلال و همچنين سال گردشگري در مالزي است. سفر منچستريونايتد بخشي از برنامه*هاي ما براي جشن اين مراسم است.

وزير ورزش مالزي ادامه داد: لغو اين مراسم با توجه به صرف هزينه زيادي كه توسط دولت براي گردشگري شده است، خبر بسيار بدي خواهد بود.

دولت و اتحاديه فوتبال مالزي نهايت تلاش خود را براي برگزاري مطلوب جام ملت*هاي آسيا انجام خواهد داد. فكر نمي*كنم بازي منچستريونايتد، تاثيري بر اين رقابت*ها داشته باشد.

[abadani69]

باشگاه "منچستر يونايتد" انگليس، حاضر به پرداخت ۴۰ميليون يورو براي خريداري "ساموئل اتوو" مهاجم افريقايي تيم "بارسلونا"ي اسپانياست.

روزنامه ورزشي "آس" امروز (پنجشنبه) گزارش داد: به اين ترتيب، به نظر مي*رسد كه اتوو هر روز از باشگاه بارسلونا دورتر مي*شود، اگر چه قرارداد كاري وي با اين تيم تا پايان سال ورزشي ۲۰۱۰ميلادي است.

بر اساس اين گزارش، پيش از اعلام آمادگي منچستر يونايتد، اتوو براي حضور در تيمهاي "آرسنال" و "ليورپول" انگليس اعلام آمادگي كرده و خواستار دريافت ۱۰ميليون يورو براي انتقال خود به اين تيمها شده بود.

آس نوشت: "آلكس فرگوسون" سرمربي تيم منچستر يونايتد، اتوو را اولويت خود براي خريد بازيكنان جديد براي سال آينده ورزشي اعلام كرده، چون معتقد است كه او يكي از كم*همتاترين مهاجمان سريع حال حاضر جهان فوتبال است.

در همين حال، مطبوعات ايتاليا نيز از تمايل مقامهاي باشگاه "آث ميلان" براي به خدمت گرفتن اتووي كامروني خبر داده*اند.

روزنامه ورزشي "گازتا اسپورت" ايتاليا به نقل از "رونالدو" مهاجم ميلان نوشته است كه او از حضور اتوو در اين تيم پشتيباني مي*كند.

رونالدو براي انتقال اتوو، مبلغ ۵۰ميليون يورو را ذكر كرده، در حالي كه حق انتقال اتوو در قراردادش با بارسلونا ۱۵۰ميليون يورو است.

[abadani69]

Manchester United has defended its involvement in Tim Howard's non-appearance for Everton in the key Premiership clash at Goodison Park last month.

Everton boss David Moyes opted not to pick Howard for the game, even though under Premier League rules the American international was eligible after turning his loan move from United into a permanent transfer.

Howard's absence proved crucial, as his replacement, Iain Turner, dropped a major clanger which allowed John O'Shea to score the goal which eventually sparked a 4-2 win for Sir Alex Ferguson's men.

It has been suggested Ferguson struck a deal with Everton counterpart David Moyes at the time of the transfer for Howard not to play, which has led to claims of third-party involvement over selection similar to those West Ham was just been fined for following the arrival of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

United has admitted to attempting to insert a clause into Howard's contract - which the Premier League rejected - to prevent him from playing against them, as the 28-year-old would not have been allowed to feature anyway had the original loan deal remained in place.

However, the Old Trafford outfit does not believe it has done anything wrong.

"It remains the club's position that such a deal could not be a material influence on the integrity of the 2006-07 Premier League season if it reflects no change to the situation that existed at the time," said a club statement.

Believing they were doing Everton a favor by allowing them to sign Howard, and acceding to the player's wishes for his long-term future to be determined, United does not understand why it should have been disadvantaged by letting the keeper play.

"We could have kept the loan deal going until the end of the season if we had wanted," Ferguson said. "But the boy wanted his future sorting out and Everton knew there were other clubs interested in the lad."

Having already secured the title and avoided defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday, Ferguson is clearly not too worried about the situation.

"Let them take the three points off us," Ferguson joked.

[abadani69]

Manchester United tried to insert a contract clause in the transfer of Tim Howard to Everton to prevent the American goalkeeper from playing in Premier League matches between the teams.

Howard joined Everton on a yearlong loan from United in the offseason, which was made permanent in February.

Under the terms of the loan, Howard could not play against United. Such arrangements are not permissible with permanent transfers.

Both clubs were cleared of wrongdoing last Sunday by the Premier League.

Everton played goalkeeper Iain Turner against United on April 28. Turner made a crucial mistake as United rallied to win 4-2 and move closer to the Premier League title.

The Guardian and The Times newspapers reported that a spoken agreement existed between the clubs that Howard wouldn't play.

[abadani69]

David Unsworth's successful penalty shot sent his former club down as 10-man Wigan held on for a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday.

The defender slotted an injury-time penalty past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny after Phil Jagielka's handball inside the area to lift the Latics past United and send Neil Warnock's side back to the championship.

Paul Scharner had drilled home Kevin Kilbane's left-wing cross after 14 minutes to put Paul Jewell's side in front before Jon Stead bravely headed home a 38th-minute equalizer.

The Latics were forced to play the final 16 minutes with 10 men after Lee McCulloch was sent off. The Blades threw everything at them, but they held on after a nervous five minutes of injury time.

Carlos Tevez completed West Ham's miraculous recovery after his strike earned a 1-0 win against champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Argentinian striker fired home from the right side of the box in first-half injury time to guarantee the Hammers' top-flight status.

Tottenham sealed a UEFA Cup spot after defeating Manchester City, 2-1. Robbie Keane volleyed Jermaine Jenas' chipped pass home after 10 minutes before Dimitar Berbatov doubled the advantage in the 32nd minute.

Emile Mpenza pulled one back for Stuart Pearce's side five minutes before halftime but they were unable to get a second.

Didier Drogba's 57th-minute equalizer ensured Chelsea equaled Liverpool's record of 63 top-flight games at home without a loss with a 1-1 draw against Everton at Stamford Bridge.

The result was enough to earn the Toffees a place in next season's UEFA Cup after James Vaughan had given them a 50th-minute lead.

Controversy followed when Everton manager David Moyes was sent to the stands after running onto the pitch and confronting referee Mark Halsey following a challenge by Paolo Ferreira.

Luke Moore's late strike was not enough to prevent Sammy Lee from guiding Bolton into the UEFA Cup with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Wanderers player-coach Gary Speed's opener was cancelled out by Craig Gardner in the 37th minute before goals from Kevin Davies (5 and Moore (81) ensured a share of the spoils.

Brynjar Gunnarsson's crisply driven strike was enough to salvage Reading a 3-3 draw at Blackburn, which will now enter the Intertoto Cup.

Benni McCarthy's 24th goal of the season put Rovers ahead. The South African striker had the simplest of finishes, tapping into the net from a yard out after Shabani Nonda had collided with Royals keeper Marcus Hahnemann in the 21st minute, before Seol Ki-Hyeon equalized.

Goals from David Bentley (55) and Matt Derbyshire (67) were again cancelled out by Steve Coppell's side in the second half, first by Kevin Doyle (5 and Gunnarsson (77).

At Anfield, Harry Kewell's 90th-minute penalty earned Liverpool a 2-2 draw with relegated Charlton.

The Reds twice came from behind against Alan Pardew's men, who took the lead when Matt Holland bundled home Zheng Zhi's second-minute cross.

Xabi Alonso pulled the Champions League finalists level before Darren Bent sidefooted home his 13th goal of the season after 72 minutes, but Kewell had the final say on matters.

Two goals by Mark Viduka ensured Middlesbrough ended the season on a high with a 3-1 victory over Fulham.

The Australian, who is yet to sign a new contract with the club, was on target either side of halftime with Boro youngster David Wheater also scoring in first-half injury time.

Simon Davies fired a consolation for Lawrie Sanchez's side three minutes before the break.

An injury to Michael Owen ensured Newcastle's season ended on a sour note following its 1-1 draw with Watford.

The England striker was stretchered off in the 67th minute after a clash with teammate Matthew Pattison.

Marlon King's goal pulled the Hornets level from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after Kieron Dyer had put the Magpies ahead in the 29th minute.

Arsenal was unable to find a way past a stubborn Portsmouth side at Fratton Park, where the score finished 0-0.

[abadani69]

Manchester United striker Louis Saha has been ruled out of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday.

Saha has been struggling with knee and hamstring problems for the past few weeks.

"Louis is out," Manchester's Sir Alex Ferguson said. "He picked up the knee injury in Milan and we did another scan on Monday to identify the problem more clearly."

The news completes a miserable cup final quintet for Saha, who was not picked for Newcastle in its 1999 FA Cup final defeat to United, was cup-tied when United beat Millwall in 2004 and injured when the Red Devils lost to Arsenal 12 months later. In addition, Saha missed France's World Cup final defeat to Italy last summer due to suspension.

"With Louis now, it is a matter of deciding what to do next," Ferguson said. "We will be making a decision next week but we are considering an operation."

[abadani69]

A ninth Premier League trophy is safely locked away. Now Manchester United is looking to secure its 12th FA Cup trophy by beating Chelsea in the showpiece final's long-awaited return to Wembley.

United has already taken the league title from the Blues, ending Chelsea's two-year reign as English champion. A win Saturday would confirm the balance of power has returned to Manchester.

"We go into this game with lots of confidence," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "We've won the league and that's a fantastic achievement by these players. But hopefully we can secure another double and I'd be so pleased to do it at the new Wembley."

Backed by the vast wealth of billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea seemed set to dominate English soccer for years after easily winning back-to-back league titles. But hampered by injuries and below-par performances from its main summer signings, the Blues finished six points behind United in the league.

A victory for the Red Devils at the rebuilt Wembley would be Ferguson's sixth FA Cup triumph. Chelsea's Jose Mourinho is seeking his first.


"It is up to up to us all to make it a sporting event to remember," Mourinho said. "If both teams can have an attacking and positive spirit, we can make the game a real final -- a final the new Wembley deserves."

A sellout 90,000 crowd will be a test of security at the rebuilt $1.58 billion Wembley, with a record 1,500 police personnel and 2,500 security stewards on duty.

A Manchester United victory would also be another satisfying coup for American owner Malcolm Glazer and his family.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner took over the club two years ago in a move that prompted fierce hostility from many Red Devils fans. The Glazers can now argue that United is far more stable that it was then, despite having to finance the deal by borrowing two-thirds of the $1.56 billion they needed to buy the club.

While Mourinho reportedly fell out with Abramovich this season over transfer deals, the Glazers say they have never had that problem with Ferguson. United can compete with Chelsea in recruiting players and has pledged to provide the cash for Ferguson to continue strengthening his squad.

The two biggest arrivals at Chelsea last summer, Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, failed to live up to expectations. Both are missing from the Blues lineup Saturday because of injuries.

Also out is dependable defender Ricardo Carvalho. Mourinho is not sure about the fitness of winger Arjen Robben, leftback Ashley Cole and midfielder John Obi Mikel.

United captain Gary Neville is missing from the Red Devils lineup because of an ankle injury that has sidelined him for 14 games. Ryan Giggs will lead out the side instead.

The Welsh winger just won his ninth Premier League title and is now after a record-tying fifth FA Cup triumph, a feat not accomplished since 1891.

"When Ryan came to us as a 13-year-old, he's the only player we've ever had that I knew was a certainty to make it," Ferguson said. "To win nine championships and make the contribution he has is amazing."

While fierce rivals, Ferguson and Mourinho have spoken of a healthy respect for each other. Mourinho may have pushed that to the edge this week by urging United players -- including winger Cristiano Ronaldo -- not to spoil the game by diving to get free kicks or opponents sent off.

"I will be very sad and disappointed if the final is not a good event, a fair event, without problems, with a good winner and proud loser," Mourinho said. "Chelsea gave a good example of how to behave when we lost the Premiership crown.

"I would be disappointed if some of the players were diving or trying to get others red-carded."

[abadani69]

" گري نويل " كاپيتان منچستر يونايتد به دليل آسيب ديدگي از ناحيه قوزك پاي راست ، روز سه شنبه از ديدار فينال جام حذفي انگليس در برابر چلسي كنار گذاشته شد.

به گزارش خبرگزاري*ها از منچستر، اين دفاع راست تيم ملي فوتبال انگليس در ديدار با بولتون در تاريخ ۱۷مارس مصدوم شده بود. هرچند كه نويل قرار بود روز دوشنبه به سر تمرينات بازگردد ولي وي همچنان احساس درد مي*كرد و اكنون يك عمل جراحي انجام خواهد داد .

در حاليكه منچستريونايتد براي نهمين بار طي ۱۵سال قهرمان ليگ برتر انگليس شده است، نويل ۱۴بازي اين تيم را از دست داده است.

احتمال مي*رود كه در غياب نويل ، "وس براون" يا "جان اوشي" در ديدار فينال جام حذفي كه شنبه آينده براي نخستين بار از سال ۲۰۰۰دوباره در ورزشگاه ويمبلي برگزار خواهد شد، جانشين وي شوند.

[abadani69]

"لوييس ساها" مهاجم فرانسوي تيم فوتبال منچستريونايتد انگليس مسابقه شنبه شب اين تيم مقابل چلسي در فينال جام حذفي باشگاه*هاي انگليس را به دليل مصدوميت از دست داد.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از منچستر ، ساها از ناحيه زانو دچار مصدوميت شده است و انتظار مي*رود نتواند هفته آينده بازي كند.

"الكس فرگوسن" سرمربي منچستريونايتد در اين*باره گفت : لوييس قادر به بازي نيست. او در ميلان از ناحيه زانو آسيب ديد .

روز دوشنبه يك بار ديگر براي تشخيص مشكل او عكسبرداري انجام شد.

اين در حاليست كه روز گذشته "گري نويل" كاپيتان منچستريونايتد نيز به دليل آسيب ديدگي قوزك پا از تركيب بازيكنان منچستريونايتد براي ديدار مقابل چلسي حذف شد.

[abadani69]

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry insists the club's American owners are ready to provide coach Rafael Benitez with the cash he wants to strengthen his squad.

Parry played down suggestions Benitez was unhappy with the lack of progress being made over funds for new signings and claimed multi-millionaires Tom Hicks and George Gillett are committed to backing the Liverpool coach.

"I can reassure Liverpool fans that the commitment of the owners is absolutely clear. They are going to provide backing to Rafa, they have made that clear to him this week, so we will be moving forward very positively," Parry told the BBC. "They have made the point that their commitment is as strong as ever. They think he is the right man for the job, they think he is a fantastic coach, they want to provide him with the backing."

Hicks owns the NHL's Dallas Stars and baseball's Texas Rangers, while Gillette owns the Montreal Canadiens.

Meanwhile, the row over the choice of the Olympic stadium in Athens to host last Wednesday's Champions League final and the behavior of Liverpool's fans rumbles on.

Liverpool lost 2-1 to AC Milan in a final that was marred by some English supporters using forged and stolen tickets to gain access to the stadium.

Their actions prevented many supporters with valid tickets from watching the game but UEFA insist it was the Greek police who decided to let fans in without tickets.

UEFA's head of communications, William Gaillard, continued to defend the choice of the Olympic stadium and promised to provide Sports Minister Richard Caborn with a report when he and president Michel Platini meet to discuss ground, ticketing and disorder issues on June 5.

"It is a complicated matter. I think we have to get more information to understand exactly what has been going on, not only in this final, but in the past few seasons," Gaillard said. "We will provide Richard Caborn with a thorough report when we meet him on June 5. It is a complex mix of strange fan behavior, if you can call them fans, because some of them not only had forged tickets but there were some who stole tickets from others. That is criminal behavior.

"We did our best organizing this final the way is should be organized. I don't think we were way off the mark. We had absolutely no problems with the Milan fans for example because they behaved properly. What happened at the Liverpool end is a question of public order. It was the behaviour of a few hundred people which caused a lot of trouble."

But Gaillard's stance was questioned by Parry, who said he warned UEFA during the days leading up to the final that intelligence suggested 5000 forged tickets were in existence.

"To have a stadium with no counting system and no turnstiles in this day and age, is simply unforgivable for any standard of game, let alone a major final," Parry said. "We produced a report for UEFA a week beforehand predicting, sadly, all of the things that did go wrong.

"We told UEFA that our intelligence suggested there were 5000 forged tickets in existence. They knew and we knew, that thousands of fans would travel without tickets and we stressed the need for a proper check at the outer cordon. We do not condone the behavior of Liverpool fans who charged gates, who stole tickets or who knowingly had forgeries, that is clear. At the same time we are hugely concerned that many innocent fans with valid tickets did not get in. We are concerned that members of our staff were tear-gassed and the checks at the outer cordons did not work."

[abadani69]

Central defenders Rio Ferdinand and Michael Dawson will both miss England's friendly against Brazil and Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia due to groin injuries, manager Steve McClaren said on Tuesday. Manchester United's Ferdinand, who missed several club games with the problem at the end of the season, was a likely starter alongside John Terry in Friday's Brazil friendly at Wembley and the trip to Estonia next Wednesday. He is likely to be replaced by Liverpool's Jamie Carragher.

Dawson, who played for England B last week, was hoping to be among the substitutes and with Jonathan Woodgate absent after knee surgery, McClaren has only Tottenham's Ledley King and Manchester United's Wes Brown as cover for central defence.

[abadani69]

Manchester United have agreed to sign Sporting winger Nani and Porto's Brazilian playmaker Anderson, the Premier League champions said on Wednesday.

United announced on their official Web site (www.manutd.com) that they had agreed "terms in principle" for both players with Porto and Sporting later confirming the deals.

Sporting said the transfer fee for Nani was 25.5 million euros ($34.22 million) and Portuguese media reported that Andeson would cost United a similar amount.

Personal terms have already been sorted out with 20-year-old Portugal left winger Nani, who had also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, and 19-year-old attacking midfielder Anderson and they will join United subject to a medical.

Nani, whose full name is Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha, has been named in Luiz Felipe Scolari's Portugal squad for Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier in Belgium.

The pacy winger, who has been compared to his international team mate and compatriot, United's Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, has scored once in five internationals.

Anderson, full name Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira, came to prominence when he was chosen as player of the tournament in the 2005 world under-17 championships.

He has been named in Brazil coach Dunga's provisional squad for the Copa America in Venezuela next month but not Friday's prestige international friendly with England at the new Wembley.

Anderson, who can also play on the wing or as a striker, joined Porto from Gremio in December 2005 and faced United in the pre-season Amsterdam Tournament last August.

He helped Porto win the Portuguese title last season ahead of Nani's Sporting who finished a point behind in second place.

[abadani69]

Sir Alex Ferguson claims the young stars who won him his ninth Premier League title last month have given him the appetite to carry on in his Old Trafford role indefinitely.

The 65-year-old Manchester United boss will prepare to embark upon his 21st season at the helm in August without showing any inclination of easing into well-earned retirement.

"There will be a time when I retire, but when that is I have absolutely no idea," Ferguson told the Manchester radio station Key 103. "Young people help you and I've got some good young players at the club, and good personalities.

"Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are fun to watch in training with all their tricks and their double act, and I think that helps keep you young."

Ferguson was due to retire at the end of the 2001-02 season but reversed his decision during the campaign, agreeing to stay for at least another three years.

"As long as my health is good that is a consideration, without question," Ferguson said. "But I feel good and I think that is the determining factor to carry on."

Ferguson's bid for a 10th title next season received a double boost Tuesday when Alan Smith pledged his future to the club and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played down a new injury scare.

Smith insists the $54 million signings of Anderson, Nani and Owen Hargreaves last week have failed to convince him that his future is anywhere other than Old Trafford.

"I have a contract re-negotiation coming up," Smith told the Manchester Evening News. He is reportedly on the wanted lists of Everton, Tottenham, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

"I was due contract talks last year and we decided, the club and myself, that I wouldn't do that when I was injured, because it wasn't fair on them. But now I am fit and ready to commit my future. I want to stay at United.

My agent has spoken with the club and the talks should happen in the next few weeks."

Meanwhile Solskjaer insists he will bounce back from his latest bout of surgery on the same knee which has required major reconstructive surgery in recent years.

Solskjaer went back under the knife last weekend after reporting discomfort whilst training, but is expected to be able to return to full training within a matter of weeks.

"I don't want you to write my football career history book yet," Solskjaer said. "I was relieved to discover that this wasn't new, but something from the injury in March. Physically and mentally I'm ready to join the team at the start of the season in four weeks."

[abadani69]

Detectives probing allegedly irregular transfer deals in the English Premier League have made their first arrest.

Officers from City of London police's economic crime unit have arrested a 61-year-old man on suspicion of money laundering.

Police are believed to be examining the findings of an inquiry by former London Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Stevens into football corruption.

"We can confirm a 61-year-old man has been arrested in Manchester (England) in connection with our investigation into football corruption," a London police spokeswoman said.

The Stevens inquiry investigated 362 transfers between January 2004 and January 2006 as his team spoke to officials from 29 clubs as well as football agents. In March, Lord Stevens identified clubs breaking or ignoring rules on more than 50 of the 362 transfers investigated.

Lord Stevens said 17 transfers had yet to be signed off as being clear of illegal payments.