Former Portsmouth assistant manager Kevin Bond is to sue the BBC for libel, and football agent Teni Yerima is considering similar action after a programme alleging corruption and rule-breaking in the English game.
Middlesbrough said they will file a complaint about agent Peter Harrison after Tuesday's Panorama, "Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets", made a series of allegations about coaches and agents.
Two agents indicated that Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce had taken payments, known as 'bungs', as part of transfers.
All of those accused in the programme have denied any wrongdoing, with some planning legal action.
Bond was secretly recorded by Panorama as saying he would consider discussing payments by a proposed new agency, entirely fictitious, involving Harrison.
"My client will be taking proceedings for libel against the BBC over the programme and the media hype generated to publicise it," Bond's solicitor David Price said in a statement.
"The short extract from my client's conversation with the reporter was taken out of context and presented in a completely misleading manner.
"It was all smoke and mirrors. It seems that my client was only included because after one year of working on the programme the producers were struggling to fill the one hour slot."
Yerima was secretly filmed saying he had given money to Allardyce.
Yerima denied the allegations, telling French radio network RFI: "I have nothing to hide, nothing to reproach myself for and, what's more, I'm willing to go to London to explain things if the federation (FA) wishes.
"I don't want to row with people, but I am in contact with my lawyer for possible subsequent action."
The former Cameroon international added: "A trap was laid for me, I don't know why, my comments were twisted, they were interpreted in a way that suited the programme. They wanted to sensationalise.
"Their desire was to find reprehensible activities in English football. I was used."
The programme accused Harrison of touting Middlesbrough teenager Nathan Porritt to other clubs. It secretly filmed the agent discussing Porritt with Chelsea's director of youth football, Frank Arnesen and later with a Liverpool official.
MIDDLESBROUGH COMPLAIN
Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said in a statement that the club was taking action over the scenes.
"We will be making a formal complaint to the FA and the Premier League about the actions of Peter Harrison, who we believe has not acted in the best interests of his client and has certainly not had any regard for Middlesbrough.
"That is totally unacceptable to us and we have no option but to lodge a formal complaint."
Chelsea and Liverpool have denied the meetings filmed by Panorama broke any industry rules, the BBC said.
Allardyce has instructed his lawyers to take the "appropriate action."
He said in a statement to reporters: "I am very angry at the lies told about me. The individuals who appeared in the programme making accusations against me have already confirmed in writing to my lawyers that they lied to the BBC.
"They lied in the hope of being able to make millions offered by the BBC undercover reporter to buy their sports agency businesses.
"Those individuals never thought their lies would be exposed in the way that they have been and have apologised to me.
"As a result of their greed, my good name has been tarnished by deceit and innuendo."
The programme makers also accused Allardyce's agent son Craig of receiving secret payments for the transfer of three players to Bolton.
Craig Allardyce has denied any wrongdoing in his Bolton deals and said he was exaggerating his own importance to an undercover BBC reporter in order to attract opportunities.
The Football Association has launched a series of investigations into Panorama's allegations, with some of them their inquiries being led jointly with the Premier League.
© 2024 Rediff.com -