The FA has acted properly and lawfully at all times in this case, and categorically denies any suggestion that it has not. None of the FA’s charges against Paul Stretford have been dropped.

The FA has chosen to suspend two of the nine charges against Players’ agent Paul Stretford relating to alleged breaches of the FIFA Players’ Agents Regulations and FA Rules set out in the FA’s Paul Stretford statement dated Friday 17 June 2005.

The charges suspended are those at 4a and 4b (see release dated 17 June 2005) concerning two alleged breaches of FA Rule E3.

This has resulted from the judgment dated 17 February 2006, Roy Meadow v General Medical Council (an unrelated case).

The two charges 4a and 4b relate to evidence provided by Mr Stretford to the police and Warrington Crown Court in 2004.

The charges have been suspended pending either a possible reversal/clarification of the ruling in the Meadow case if the General Medical Council appeals the Court’s decision of 17 February 2006 (which allows the 2 suspended charges to proceed), or a referral to The FA from the Crown Court Judge that heard the case in Warrington.

The FA will be asking the Crown Court Judge if he wishes to make this referral. The FA will only pursue disciplinary proceedings against Mr Stretford in relation to the above two charges if either of the above events occurs.