Probe into Kewell deal

Harry Kewell's controversial £5m transfer from Leeds to Liverpool is being investigated by FIFA. Even before yesterday's High Court battle between the Australian star and Gary Lineker ended in a draw, world football's governing body had opened a probe into the deal which took Kewell to Anfield in July 2003.

Kewell's personal manager, Bernie Mandic, an Australian, was not authorised to work as an agent by FIFA although his brother Nick, who is registered with the world football governing body, was involved in the transfer.

FIFA said today that its legal department was looking into the case and whether unauthorised agents were involved in the deal.

The organisation confirmed that it received complaints from licensed agents in Australia about the transfer two years ago.

But it is only in the last six weeks that it has been decided that FIFA - and not the Football Association - has the jurisdiction to come to a ruling on the affair.

A FIFA spokesman said: "Because it was an internal transfer between Leeds and Liverpool it was quite complex legally to decide under whose jurisdiction it was.

"It is now resolved that it is FIFA's and the matter is being investigated."

Under FIFA guidelines, agents are not allowed to work for more than one party in a transfer deal.

The furore over the deal comes as the FA faces a growing crisis over its plans to introduce new rules to police the work of agents.

Standard Sport has learned that their negotiations with the Premier League and the Football League over the rules have reached deadlock and that new legislation is unlikely to be introduced this year, as had previously been expected.

The deadlock has angered Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney who said today that clubs outside the Premiership will introduce their own rules if the FA fails to act quickly enough.

Mawhinney said: "It is the overwhelming view of Football League clubs that we want to put in place a regulatory regime that applies to agents."