Villa guilty over Beattie approach
Aston Villa have been found guilty of making an illegal approach for striker James Beattie earlier this year.
The FA Premier League reprimanded the club but chose not to fine the midlands side.
Villa officials, including manager David O'Leary, attended a Premier League hearing this afternoon to answer the charge, which was brought after O'Leary was quoted last summer as saying "there is a player there who wants to join us".
The manager argued he was only responding to press questions after Southampton had made it known Beattie was available for sale but that defence failed.
Villa subsequently had a £6million bid for Beattie accepted earlier this month but the striker chose to join Everton, who also had a similar offer accepted by the south-coast club.
