Tapping Ups Most Notorious

With the football world bracing itself for a few more twists in the Chelsea / Gael Kakuta case,  we roll back the years to honor some of the most notorious incidents of tapping up. Roman’s crack team of legal eagles would do well to read on.

Player Power: Aston Villa goal machine and Trinidad and Tobago front man Dwight Yorke.

Silly Scenario: Controversial circumstances surrounded Yorke’s move to Old Trafford. Following intense media speculation that Sir Alex Ferguson had tapped up Yorke and had agreed a deal with his advisors, John Gregory publicly stated that Villa were only interested in selling if United included Andy Cole in the deal. In August, 1998, Yorke played for Villa in the first game of the season against Everon. He appeared completely disinterested and following the match publicly expressed his wish to leave for Manchester. Backed into a corner, Villa accepted a £12.6 million offer for Yorke and Sire Alex finally got his man.

Punishment Fit the Crime? No repercussions, except of course, he can’t go back to Birmingham. Yorke notched 18 goals in 32 appearances during his first season at United. Ironically, Yorke’s devastating partnership with proposed Villa replacement Andy Cole led United during one of the most successful periods in it’s history.

Dwight Yorke - Got greedy at Villa Park.

Player Power: Promising young Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes.

Silly Scenario: Not one in particular. Meetings between Mexes, his agent and Roma officials had reportedly been held for several months prior to his signing at the Stadio Olimpico in June, 2004.

Punishment Fit the Crime? Following the transfer, Auxerre reported Roma and Mexes to FIFA claiming they had not agreed to the deal and that it had been approved solely at the player’s discretion. Found guilty, Mexes was banned for six weeks but the punishment was frozen pending the outcome of the appeal. Mexes played for Roma from September 2004 until February 2005 before the ban was upheld putting the player out of action until April.

Philippe Mexes - Auxerre's dynamic defender fled to Serie A.

Player Power: Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, aided and abetted by sleazy football agent Jonathan Barnett.

Silly Scenario: A secret meeting between Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon, Cole and Barnett occurred at a hotel in London on January 27, 2005. The next day pictures of the meeting were splashed across the tabloids. The rest is history.

Punishment Fit the Crime? After appeal, the guilty verdict was upheld but Chelsea, Mourinho, Cole and Barnett had their initial fines reduced. 18 months after the ‘secret’ meeting, Cole got his move to West London as part of a swap with William Gallas moving in the opposite direction.

'Cashley' Cole - Has enjoyed the last laugh at Stamford Bridge.

Player Power: Egyptian national team veteran and Al-Ahaly goalie Essam El-Hadary.

Silly Scenario: A Sion hotel. The ambitious keeper put pen to paper on a long term deal with the Swiss club without his Egyptian team’s consent.

Punishment Fit the Crime? El-Hadary played out one full season at FC Sion before FIFA handed down a 4 month playing ban. Following the suspension El-Hadary returned to Egypt with Ismaily taking on the national outcast. FC Sion were hit with a single transfer window embargo. Whilst their appeal is being considered with CAS, the embargo has been frozen allowing Sion to stock up during this past transfer window.

Essam El-Hadary - Celebrating a return after 4 months out.