London: Football agent Peter Harrison is to sue the BBC over its Panorama programme alleging corruption and rule-breaking in English football, the Daily Express reported on Friday.
Harrison was secretly filmed in Tuesday's programme saying that a transfer deal with Bolton Wanderers, the Premier League side managed by Sam Allardyce, could be helped by offering money to his agent son, Craig Allardyce.
Sam Allardyce was accused by another agent, French-based Teni Yerima, of taking illegal payments or 'bungs' as part of transfer deals -- a claim strongly denied by the Bolton manager.
All those accused by the programme have denied any wrongdoing, while the Football Association has launched a series of inquiries into the allegations.
"I've never given bungs," Harrison was quoted as telling the Daily Express. "I've not given a bung to Sam Allardyce. I shall be suing the BBC. I haven't heard from the FA. I shall be carrying on as an agent and I shall be doing whatever the FA want me to do."
The programme also alleged that Harrison had made payments to Craig Allardyce as part of two transfer deals involving players signed by Bolton. Craig Allardyce has denied any wrongdoing in his Bolton deals or in his relationship with the club.
Asked about payments to the Bolton manager's son, Harrison said: "Yes, I have paid Craig. I've never denied it, so I am not going to deny it to you. But Craig is a FIFA agent and in some deals there can be as many as four or five agents, so why shouldn't I pay Craig?"
Harrison is one of several figures accused in the programme who are planning or considering legal action against the BBC. Sam Allardyce has dismissed the allegations against him as lies and said he has instructed his lawyers to take "appropriate action."
Former Portsmouth assistant manager Kevin Bond is to sue the BBC for libel after he was secretly recorded saying he would consider discussing payments by a proposed new -- but fictitious -- agency.
Yerima has also said he is considering legal action over the programme, telling French radio he had nothing to hide and would come to London to meet the FA if necessary.
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