Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has denied any wrongdoing after he was named by the Daily Telegraph as part of an undercover sting into football’s dealings.
The Queens Park Rangers boss was filmed by reporters discussing a £55,000 fee for talking to potential investors.
QPR have now launched an internal investigation into the Telegraph’s claims, but Hasselbaink has insisted he has done nothing wrong.
“I have today, through my lawyers, responded in full to the accusations levelled against me by The Telegraph,” he Hasselbaink said in a statement.
“I was approached by Mr McGarvey and Ms Newell of The Telegraph purporting to be players’ agents.
“They offered me a fee to make a speech in Singapore. I do not see anything unusual in being offered to be paid to make a speech.
“I did not make any promises in return. I did not ask QPR to purchase any of the players who were said to be managed by Mr McGarvey and Ms Newell and did not and would not recommend the purchase of a player for my personal gain. I deny any accusations of wrongdoing on my part.”
The Telegraph has this week begun publishing the results of a 10 month investigation into alleged football corruption.
On Tuesday Sam Allardyce was forced out of his job as England manager after he was filmed discussing the FA’s third party ownership rules, and criticising his predecessor Roy Hodgson.
And on Wednesday Barnsley suspended assistant manager Tommy Wright after he was filmed allegedly accepting a £5,000 cash payment from an undercover reporter.
There is no suggestion that Barnsley knew what Wright was doing, and a club spokesman said: “Barnsley FC is aware of allegations made by the Telegraph against Tommy Wright.
“The club has today suspended Tommy pending an internal investigation into these allegations.”
https://twitter.com/SkySportsNewsHQ/status/781249945579900929
A spokesman for Mr Wright added: “Any suggested acts contrary to criminal law or those of the FA and Fifa are categorically denied.”
The full allegations can be read here.
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