Boro to lodge complaint

Middlesbrough confirmed they would make an official complaint about agent Peter Harrison touting their academy player, England youth international Nathan Porritt, to three Premiership rivals.

Tuesday night's BBC Panorama programme showed Harrison offering Porritt to Chelsea's director of youth football Frank Arnesen and a Liverpool official. Harrison also told an undercover reporter that Newcastle had met the player without Middlesbrough's knowledge.

Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb said: "We will be making a formal complaint to the Football Association 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 Football Club."

He added: "That is totally unacceptable to us and we have no option but to lodge a formal complaint."

Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle may escape disciplinary action from the Premier League but they could still face charges from the FA over the Panorama allegations.

The trio will be investigated by a joint FA/Premier League probe but because Middlesbrough are unlikely to make a formal complaint about the clubs, penalties for any breach of Premier League regulations are unlikely.

As it is a joint investigation however, the FA could still take action unilaterally even if Middlesbrough do not make a complaint.

It is understood Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is also unlikely to face any action from the Premier League over his appearance in the programme when he was filmed talking to an agent about Blackburn defender Andy Todd.

Middlesbrough were upset to see the footage involving Porritt's agent. At the time of the meetings, Porritt was just 15, and he has since committed his future to Boro.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool have denied breaking the rules in connection with their interest in Porritt.