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Arsenal Calum Chambers Fine Much Ado About Nothing
By Josh Sippie
One lingering back story that has managed to claim so many headlines is the hubbub surrounding the Calum Chambers transfer back in 2014. Yes, that one, way back then. It has been discovered that there were some less than honest things going on between some perfectly honest people. Or at least that is what the story reads like.
The statements from the FA regarding these heinous acts reads as follows:
“The charge was in relation to the transfer of Calum Chambers from Southampton to Arsenal on July 26, 2014. Arsenal admitted part of the breach but denied another, which was found not proven following an independent regulatory commission. The charges against Mr Middleton, which he denied, were found proven.”
Mr. Middleton, who, aside from missing a first name, was also involved in “partial” fronting, which we shall sardonically refer to as “siding”. He was the guilty agent. The reports state that there was an unauthorized and unlicensed agent involved. Given the lack of any other agents, Mr. Middleton must be the culprit.
The punishments seal the deal. Mr. Middleton is facing a £30,000 fine and a three-month suspension and Arsenal is facing a £60,000 pound fine.
Both parties have admitted that the FA got it right and that they were in the wrong. The statement from Arsenal patted the FA on the backside but held to their claim that they acted in good faith. They also went on to acknowledge that their procedures have been adjusted so as to prevent a one-year toe ache like this from happening again.
Mr. Middleton said the same. An agent of Cassius Sports Management, a rather conspicuous name for anyone named Caesar, Middleton said that his lesson has been learned and that in the future, there will be no misinterpretation of proceedings. He too, claims to have acted in good faith with his only error being a minor procedural error.
It was never going to be that big of a deal anyway. Arsenal was not going to have to ship Chambers back to Southampton and any fine was going to be pocket change. There was never any real reason to make a fuss about it,. Thankfully, it is over and we can all move on.
So in the end, everyone learned something. Arsenal learned how not to spend £11 million on a 19 year old center back. Mr. Middleton learned how not to be an unauthorized and unlicensed agent. The FA learned that both Arsenal and Mr. Middleton learned their lesson.
Job well done, everyone.
Next: What Kind Of Pokemon Is Calum Chambers?