There’s a line, have Newcastle crossed it?

If there’s one prevailing feature of Newcastle’s summer transfer activity so far it’s their apparent readiness to cross the Channel at every possible opportunity to sign a Frenchman or a footballer who has played on France’s Ligue 1. However, now it seems like there’s another regular theme that is becoming apparent – being accused of illegally approaching players. So, are Newcastle sailing too close to the wind when it comes to player acquisition and have they crossed the line in some of their approaches?

While you could possibly understand it happening once, twice and you think something might just be going on. The first player Newcastle have got into trouble over is Charlton goalkeeper Robbie Elliot (not to be confused with the ex-Newcastle left back). Charlton have reported Newcastle to the Premier League after the Magpies made an approach that was duly rejected and then made that approach public, seemingly in an attempt to unsettle the player.

Charlton chief executive Steven Kavanagh said: “It is very disappointing that Alan Pardew has decided to make public an offer for Robbie Elliot despite assurances to the contrary that wouldn’t happen from club officials. Newcastle made a written offer of £100,000 for Robbie on Wednesday, and made it clear that it was their final and best offer. The offer was rejected within minutes, and Newcastle then confirmed they no longer had an interest in the player. We have contacted the Premier League to register our concern at public statements being made by Newcastle after they withdrew their interest.”

The second player is Modibo Maiga. He hit the headlines for going on strike and demanding a move to Newcastle; so the player has hardly behaved impeccably, but then reportedly neither have the Magpies. Sochaux chairman Alexandre Lacombe said: “Newcastle are going on contacting our players despite our refusal. So we will register a complaint with UEFA, telling them such behaviour is not fair play.” It isn’t just UEFA Newcastle are being reported to either, it’s FIFA, too.

A statement on Socahux’s website states: “On Monday August 22, 2011, FC Sochaux-Montbeliard sent a referral to Fifa with the aim of obtaining assurances on the part of Newcastle United that they will stop their contacts with Modibo Maiga, who is under contract with FCSM until 2014. This contact is in violation of Article 18 of the current international regulations. This measure comes after Sochaux demanded without success, in an official manner and on two occasions, that the English club put a stop to their actions.”

While I want Newcastle to bring in the best players that they can, I’d like them to show some sort of morality. If the boot was on the other foot and it was another club illegally tapping up a Newcastle player I’d be angry, so it would be hypocritical of me to be anything other than disappointed with the way Newcastle are doing business. Let’s hope all the transfer business the Magpies do between now and the end of August is above board and on the level.

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