Calum Chambers: Arsenal fined over defender’s transfer

Arsenal have been slapped with a fine of £60,000 for breaching the regulations surrounding football agents during their purchase of starlet Calum Chambers.

Chambers joined the Gunners for £16million in July 2014 and Standard Sport understands talks between the two clubs were amicable throughout.

While the FA maintains that Arsenal FC was not aware of the fact that Ercolano was not actually licensed by the FA, England’s apex football authority did condemn the North London club for not running strong background checks.

As for Middleton’s case, the FA’s Independent Regulatory Commission found that the former had knowledge about the fact that Ercolano was not licensed, and still chose to act upon it. Middleton was supposed to receive £30,000 in parts from the Chambers deal.

The FA released a statement revealing the disciplinary measures, which also extend to “authorised agent” Alan Middleton for his involvement in the deal. Middleton has been fined 30,000 pounds and given a suspended ban of three months.

However, the ban is suspended for 18 months from October 23, 2015 “unless he commits an offence contrary to the agents regulations or the FA’s regulations on working with intermediaries during this time”, the FA said.

‘The charges against Mr Middleton, which he denied, were found proven’.

‘We have improved our procedures to prevent this happening again’.

‘As a company we take our responsibilities extremely seriously and it was pleasing to see that the commission acknowledged that at all times we acted in the best interests of the player and cooperated fully with the commission’s investigation.

Chambers lifted the FA Cup in his first season as an Arsenal player and has helped his side to second place in the Premier League this season, where they are level on points with leaders Manchester City.