Points deduction not off the cards as Tottenham investigation emerges - Finance Expert

We’re delighted to welcome football finance expert Dr Daniel Plumley as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Tottenham...

Dan Plumley has insisted that a points deduction is not fully off the table for Tottenham, but it would be tricky as the FA look into the transfer of Jermain Defoe.

It comes after The Times revealed on 21 November that Daniel Levy and Harry Redknapp dealt with an unlicensed agent to sign the then-Portsmouth striker in 2008.

The finance expert shared examples of Luton and Leeds being punished for similar, with the latter only seeing their chairman at the time, Massimo Cellino acted upon - with a fine the most likely outcome.

"A points deduction would be tricky," he exclusively told Tottenham News.

"It's not entirely off the table and there are a couple of past cases we can point to, but I think the likelihood of the time that has elapsed, you're looking at probably a fine, is the minimum.

"Luton were fined and docked points for similar back in 2008, but that was more in real-time, another example is Massimo Cellino at Leeds who was fined and banned, but the club didn't get docked any points, that was the individual.

"So, there are past cases to draw upon, but again, I think given the time that has elapsed, you're probably looking at a fine as a minimum, I think it's unlikely you would see retrospective points deductions for that."

In other Tottenham news, Plumley has also explored how Spurs have jumped ahead of Manchester United