Investigators making progress in English transfer probe

LONDON, March 7 (Reuters) - Investigators looking into 17 outstanding transfers involving English Premier League clubs have made significant progress, the Premier League Board said on Wednesday.

In a statement on its Web site (www.premierleague.com) after receipt of an updated report from the investigators, the League added that it was considering taking action against any clubs discovered to have breached various transfer rules.

The League has told the clubs the investigation, led by Lord Stevens and his Quest team, is continuing to see if there were any irregularities in the remaining 17 transfers.

The inquiry started by looking into 362 transfer deals.

The League said breaches already under consideration were not "criminal in nature".

"The Premier League board will take time to consider this report in full and decide on the appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis," added the League.

The breaches of rules being considered included:

- payments by clubs directly to third parties

- failure to disclose payments made by agents to other agents or third parties

- agents representing more than one party

- failures of clubs to enter into appropriate written agreements with agents

- players contracts containing potential breaches of rules

- the involvement of unlicensed agents

Updated on Wednesday, Mar 7, 2007 11:07 am EST