FA charges Rooney agent Stretford

Read the full statement on the charges on the FA's website The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites

Agent Paul Stretford has been charged by the Football Association over his acquisition of Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney.

It is the first time an agent has been charged relating to an alleged breach of both Fifa regulations and FA rules.

Stretford was representing Rooney in September 2002, but this allegedly overlapped an agreement the player had with his former agent Peter McIntosh.

Stretford's licence could be withdrawn if he is found guilty of the charges.

But the agent, who has 14 days to respond, has denied any wrongdoing and a spokesman for Proactive Sports Management said he would request a personal hearing.

"The charges laid against Paul Stretford are entirely without foundation and he will be seeking a personal hearing in order to fully rebut them," the spokesman said.

"Both the company and Paul Stretford have co-operated fully with the FA throughout and we are surprised and disappointed that the FA has chosen to proceed to take the matter further.

"Paul Stretford, therefore, welcomes the opportunity to set the record straight once and for all."

Rooney has revealed his shock at the charges levelled against Stretford by the FA.

SOME OF STRETFORD'S CLIENTS Andy Cole (Fulham) Sean Davis (Tottenham) Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) Thomas Gravesen (R Madrid) Francis Jeffers (Charlton) John O'Shea (Man Utd) Claudio Reyna (Man City)

"I have already informed the FA as to how I came to be represented by Paul Stretford and Proactive," said Rooney in a statement.

"I am surprised that the FA has charged Paul Stretford and Proactive Sports Management as I have already written to them explaining my decision.

"I was happy then and I still am."

Stretford was accused of misleading a court in October 2004 after charges were dropped against three men accused of blackmailing him.

He said the three men, John Hyland and brothers Christopher and Anthony Bacon tried to make him sign a contract splitting his Rooney profits 50-50 at a meeting in a Warrington hotel in June 2003.

But the prosecution said information showed that Stretford misled the court by making false statements while giving his evidence.

They showed that Stretford secured the services of Rooney in September 2002 and not December as he had told the court.

Rooney later joined Manchester United in a deal which could eventually be worth £27m in August 2004.