Aston Villa found guilty

[FLiam]

Aston Villa have been found guilty and reprimanded by the FA Premier League over a charge of making an illegal approach for striker James Beattie.

But the club will not be fined after boss David O'Leary said "there is a player there who wants to join us" following a match with Southampton.

Villa were beaten by Everton in the race to sign Beattie in January.

"We're disappointed with the guilty verdict, but we had a fair hearing," said Villa spokesman Phil Mepham.

Before the hearing, O'Leary labelled the charge as a "farce", saying Saints had already made it known that the player was up for sale.

"For me to be on a charge for this when I see what goes on in the game is an absolute disgrace," said O'Leary.

He added: "If everyone was to be charged on what things were said in the media, I think the offices of the FA or the Premier League would be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

"I saw on the text on TV a certain manager saying he wants to buy a certain player. Isn't that what we are being charged about?

source: bbc.co.uk/sport

Edited January 18, 2005 by Gooner4Life

[lanky316]

These things happen every day. If your going to go to another player over his club at least cover your tracks first...

[Jonny D]

I don't think he did anything wrong. As he said, it was already known that Beattie was up for sale.

[Summers]

Oh well. No problem really. Everyone does it.

[Guest The Real Deal]

No point in making a big deal about it after they used the media to get an advantage over the fans anyway saying that we were talking to Beattie when they wouldn't allow Villa to talk to him and the Everscum got him

[pigeon]

Everscum

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Edited January 19, 2005 by pigeon

[Summers]

Everscum

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Uncalled for.

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