Liverpool: Fulham Withdraw Reds Complaint

Fulham have officially withdrawn their complaint to the Premier League concerning Liverpool's alleged tapping-up of former player Clint Dempsey...

Fulham FC have today released a statement confirming the club has dropped their complaint regarding the actions of Liverpool FC in the summer transfer saga of American international Clint Dempsey.

The move from the Cottagers follows a series of recent apologies issued directly to the club from members of the Liverpool hierarchy.

Firstly Reds chairman Tom Werner expressed his regrets about the club's actions in person to Fulham counterpart Mohammed Al Fayed before managing director Ian Ayre followed it up with a letter to the London based side.

The statement, published on Fulhamfc.com, reads as follows: "Fulham can confirm that it has today withdrawn the complaint made against Liverpool FC in regard to the Merseyside club's inappropriate actions surrounding interest in Clint Dempsey over the summer.

"Liverpool's Chairman Tom Werner apologised personally to Mohamed Al Fayed, stating that his club were wholly responsible for unprofessional behaviour toward Fulham and emphasised his regret for the entire episode.

"In a letter from Liverpool to Fulham's CEO Alistair Mackintosh, Tom Werner's praise of the magnanimous gesture from the Chairman was reiterated, as was the club's assurance that the conduct of Liverpool was simply not acceptable.

"The Chairman decided that this sincere action was enough, and as a gesture of goodwill, instructed that all complaints against them be dropped."

Dempsey was Fulham's top scorer last term but after refusing to play for the club during pre-season subsequently joined Tottenham Hotspur on transfer deadline day.

Before his move to Spurs, Liverpool were reportedly interested in acquiring the player with manager Brendan Rodgers openly admitting as much during an interview on Liverpool FC's official website. The club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, also inadvertently published an article on their own website NASN.com wrongly indicating that the 29-year-old had signed for the Merseysiders.

These incidents would appear to equate, at the very least, to an 'indirect approach' as outlined by the Premier League under points T.3 and T.8 of their rulebook.

T.3. Any Club which by itself, by any of its Officials, by any of its Players, by its Agent, by any other Person on its behalf or by any other means whatsoever makes an approach either directly or indirectly to a Contract Player except as permitted by either Rule T.1.2 or Rule T.2 shall be in breach of these Rules and may be dealt with under the provisions of Section W of these Rules (Disciplinary).

T.8. A statement made publicly by or on behalf of a Club expressing interest in acquiring the registration of a Contract Player or by a Contract Player expressing interest in transferring his registration to another Club (or club) shall in either case be treated as an indirect approach for the purposes of Rules T.3 and T.6.

Vital Verdict
If Fulham had pursued the complaint and Liverpool found guilty then at the very least a heavy fine would have been administered. Given the Reds have been accused of similar indiscretions in the past there was even the outside possibility of a points deduction. Therefore we have to be happy it has been settled amicably even if it does leave us looking a little red-faced.

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