Before he had even taken his first training session as England manager, Allardyce negotiated with people claiming to represent a Far East company that hoped to make a lot of money from the UK transfer market. The FA immediately launched an investigation into the case.
‘Big Sam’ agreed to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong as a football ambassador and explained to the supposed businessmen how to get around the rules of the Football Association, which prohibit “third-party” companies from owning the rights to a player.
What Allardyce did not realise was that the businessmen were in fact undercover journalists. They filmed him secretly.
The two meetings between Allardyce and the “businessmen” lasted four hours. The manager told them there was no problem in circumventing the rules laid down by his own employers, the FA. He even said he knew of agents who did this “all the time” and added: “Here are the big money!” ‘Big Sam’ also mocked his predecessor Roy Hodgson, calling him “Woy”.
“There is a psychological barrier for the English players. That’s why they underperform… The players who don’t play regularly for their clubs mustn’t be called up… The FA decision for Wembley was silly…” Allardyce told the undercover reporters.
The FA banned “third-party” ownership of players’ rights, often described as a form of modern slavery, in 2008.
Allardyce’s salary was hardly small. He had signed a contract worth £3m per season, yet he evidently did not turn down extra “bonuses”. His actions raised a possible conflict of interest, because a manager could benefit from selecting a particular player for the squad.
The “Telegraph” tried to put questions to Allardyce before publishing the story, but he declined to comment. The FA also opened an investigation and requested full details.
Sixty-seven days in charge
Allardyce had signed a two-year contract as England manager on 22 July 2016, succeeding Roy Hodgson. His reign lasted for only one match. On 4 September 2016, on the opening day of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, England won away to Slovakia thanks to an injury-time winner from Adam Lallana.
The fallout from the Telegraph investigation was swift. On 27 September 2016 Allardyce left the job by mutual consent with the FA. He had been in charge for 67 days, the shortest spell of any permanent England manager. He denied any wrongdoing and was never charged with an offence.
What came next for England and Allardyce
The FA turned to Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England under-21 side, as interim boss for the next four matches, against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain. Southgate’s side won two of those games and drew the other two, and at the end of November 2016 he was given the job on a permanent basis with a four-year contract.
Allardyce did not stay out of club football for long. On 23 December 2016, a day after Alan Pardew had been dismissed, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract as manager of Crystal Palace.
Why third-party ownership was banned
Third-party ownership means that an investment fund, agency or private investor, rather than a club, holds part of a player’s economic rights and takes a share of any future transfer fee. The practice was most widespread in South America and in parts of Europe. Critics argued that it handed control over careers to outside investors and created conflicts of interest. After the English ban of 2008, FIFA went further: its executive committee voted for a worldwide prohibition in September 2014, and the rule, Article 18ter of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, took full effect on 1 May 2015.
Questions people ask
Why did Sam Allardyce leave the England job?
Undercover Daily Telegraph reporters recorded him offering advice on how to get around FA rules on third-party ownership of players. He left the post by mutual consent on 27 September 2016. He denied wrongdoing and was not charged.
How many matches did Allardyce manage England for?
Only one. England won away to Slovakia on 4 September 2016 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, with Adam Lallana scoring the winner in injury time.
Who replaced Sam Allardyce as England manager?
Gareth Southgate, the England under-21 manager, took charge on an interim basis for four matches. He was then appointed permanently at the end of November 2016 on a four-year contract.
What is third-party ownership in football?
It is an arrangement in which an outside investor, such as a fund or agency, owns part of a player’s economic rights and shares in future transfer fees. The FA banned it in England in 2008, and FIFA introduced a worldwide ban that took full effect on 1 May 2015.