Fulham continue legal battle against EPL chief

Fulham are set to take their legal action against Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards to the Court of Appeal.

The Cottagers have alleged Richards scuppered their bid to sign England striker Peter Crouch back in July 2009.

Wednesday saw the High Court issue a ruling stopping Fulham’s legal action against Richards and the Premier League, urging them to pursue private arbitration in a bid to resolve the matter.

But Fulham were also given leave to appeal against the verdict and a statement issued by the London club later Wednesday made it clear they would contest the ruling.

“Although it ruled that Fulham must pursue its complaints by way of private arbitration under the Premier League and Football Association rules, the High Court also gave Fulham permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal, recognising that there was a previous High Court decision in another case that came to a different conclusion on similar issues, and that an important point of law was involved.

“Fulham intends to take its case to the Court of Appeal so that this important issue can be resolved in its favour.”

The Cottagers claim Richards interfered with their bid to buy Crouch, then at Portsmouth, who ended up joining Tottenham for nine million pounds, two million less than Fulham were reportedly prepared to offer.

It is alleged Richards intervened because Spurs were prepared to offer Portsmouth a lump-sum at a time when the then financially stricken south coast club risked going out of business completely, whereas Fulham were planning to pay in instalments.

Fulham have argued Richards broke Football Association (FA) and Premier League rules by favouring one club over another.

Richards has agreed he did speak with Portsmouth’s then chief executive Peter Storrie but has denied he sought to favour Tottenham.

Although a Premier League inquiry cleared Richards of wrongdoing, that did not satisfy Fulham.

If Richards was ousted, it would lead to a major shake-up in English football administration.

The former Sheffield Wednesday chairman has held a similar position at the Premier League for 11 years and is also vice-chairman of the FA, chairman of Club England and a member of the FA’s international committee.