EPL Dismisses Portsmouth Ownership by Arkadi Gaydamak Speculation

The English Premier League has dismissed suggestions that Portsmouth are effectively controlled by Arkadi Gaydamak, father of the club's owner Alexandre.

Newspaper reports in Israel had claimed that Israel-based Arkadi Gaydamak, the subject of an arrest warrant by French authorities, was effectively in charge at Fratton Park.

But the EPL said in a statement that it had no reason to question Alexandre Gaydamak's ownership of the club.

"In response to recent press speculation regarding the ownership of Portsmouth Football Club, the Premier League can confirm that it has re-examined the current position, found there to be no variance with information already on record and therefore is able to re-confirm that Alexandre Gaydamak is the ultimate beneficial owner of Portsmouth Football Club," the EPL said in a statement.

The question of Gaydamak senior being effectively in charge is an issue because the EPL requires that club owners and directs pass a "fit and proper persons" test.

Arkadi Gaydamak, the owner of Israeli champions Beitar Jerusalem, has been the subject of an arrest warrant by French authorities keen to question him in connection with allegedly illicit arms trading to Angola during the 1990s.

A Portsmouth spokesman had earlier dismissed suggestions that Alexandre Gaydamak was no more than a puppet of his father.

"We are a little surprised that this issue has come up again because Alexandre Gaydamak owns the club 100 percent and nothing has changed," the spokesman said.

EPL Transfers Breaks £500 Million Record

A record-breaking 500 million pounds was spent by English Premier League clubs on players in the mid-year transfer window, according to a report by consultancy firm Deloitte.

Last-minute deals on Monday including Robinho's move from Real Madrid [Images] to Manchester City for an estimated 32.5 million pounds and Dimitar Berbatov's transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United for 30.75 million pounds raised total spending to around 500 million pounds.

That was around 30 million pounds more than the same transfer window last year.

"This level of transfer spending is far in excess of spending by other European leagues," Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley said in a statement on Tuesday.

"With the majority of their revenue streams already contractually secured, English football clubs are proving resilient to the current challenging economic environment," added Rawnsley, director of the company's sports business group.

"While football is not recession-proof it is recession-resistant."

Deloitte said Premier League clubs spent around 215 million pounds buying players from each other, representing more than 40 percent of the transfer activity during the window.

In previous years this represented around a third of total spending.

Including the January transfer window, total spending for 2008 was around 675 million pounds compared to 531 million pounds the previous year.

Dimitar Berbatov Joins Manchester United for £30.75 million

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Dimitar Berbatov will give Manchester United's attack a "new and exciting dimension" this season.

With Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined through injury, Ferguson is relieved to have finally recruited Berbatov, whose touch, vision and presence seems likely to complement the more dynamic talents of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

The Bulgarian has been a long-term target of the double-winners, who had an approach rebuffed last season. They reignited their interest this summer, as they looked to complete their striking options up front.

"This is a key signing," said Ferguson after United agreed to pay Tottenham £30.75 million for Berbatov. "Dimitar is one of the best and most exciting strikers in world football. His style and ability will give the team a different dimension and I am sure he will be a popular player with the fans."

Ferguson's personal intervention was understood to have played a crucial role in the dramatic climax to United's long-running pursuit of Berbatov.

The deal was under severe doubt after Tottenham agreed a fee with Manchester City. But Ferguson drove Berbatov away from Manchester airport in his Bentley and eventually ensured the Bulgarian signed a four-year deal at Old Trafford.

"Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me," said the 27-year-old forward.

"I look forward to playing my part in helping this club win more honours in the years to come."

Berbatov, 27, agreed to a four-year contract with United and Tottenham confirmed the deal on their website 45 minutes after the transfer window shut.

United submitted papers to the Premier League 40 minutes before the midnight deadline. The deal, which will see Fraizer Campbell move in the other direction on a season-long loan, was duly confirmed at 12.40am.

The fee is more than United had originally seemed willing to pay, chiefly because of City's audacious bid to sign the player yesterday afternoon.

Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, had reportedly agreed a deal of £35 million deal with City. But Berbatov's insistence on joining United, and the increased bid from Old Trafford, eventually allowed Ferguson to claim a small victory over City, in what is set to become a long-drawn out war for supremacy between the two clubs.

Spurs were greatly opposed to their approach for their star player and reported Manchester United to the Football Association accusing them of an illegal approach for the 27-year-old. Nevertheless, they remained at the front of the queue to land their man despite fleeting interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Dhabi United Group (ADUG) Buys Manchester City

Manchester City became the second Arab-owned football club in the English Premier League `EPL` Monday following its takeover by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development `ADUG`. The new owners are expect Premier League clearance so they can buy the club outright, within hours.

ADUG claimed it completed the takeover of the north-west English club from controversial Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra who is fleeing an arrest warrant while on bail over corruption charges in his home country.

Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim the 31-year-old behind the adventure has to wait for the due diligence test, otherwise known as the 'fit and proper person' check before the final piece of the jigsaw can be rubber-stamped. Other than that, City fans waking up this morning can think of their beloved club not just as a rich club but as the wealthiest club in the world.

Talking to the reputable and leading newspaper, Arabian Business, Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim explained that the consortium had dotted the 'I's' and crossed the 'T's', however it was up the EPL's governing body to sanction the takeover.

'It is really about formalities. It is more about securing approval from the authorities in England, such as the Premier League. I don't foresee any problems with the club itself. I need to check my diary and come over to England as soon as possible so I can meet people from the Premier League. We are very happy to become the new owners of Manchester City, one of the oldest clubs in England.'

The deal gave it "all management rights" over Manchester City, while the former Thai prime minister would become honorary president of the club "without any administrative responsibilities," it said.

The takeover comes after Egyptian businessman Mohammed al-Fayed became the first Arab owner of an EPL, when he bought London's oldest professional club, Fulham back in 1997.

The EPL has no restrictions on club ownership, with eight of the 20 clubs in foreign hands, although any director can be automatically disqualified if they are convicted of a listed offense.

Currently, three clubs are under American control, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa, followed by two under Russian ownership, Chelsea and Portsmouth.

Apart from Manchester City and Fulham, the other club in foreign hands is West Ham, owned by an Icelandic consortium headed by Eggert Magnusson.