Stretford faces FA charges

Wayne Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, was yesterday charged by the Football Association with a series of alleged breaches of Fifa's players' agents regulations and FA rules in relation to when and how he became the Manchester United striker's representative. They also relate to evidence he gave at a trial heard at Warrington Crown Court last year.

The trial arose from allegations by Stretford in 2003 that he was being blackmailed into sharing money he earned from representing Rooney. Stretford repeatedly said he had not poached Rooney from Peter McIntosh, his original agent, but the trial collapsed when the prosecution said it was no longer able to rely on Stretford, its main witness.

Stretford resigned as a director of Proactive Sports Management after it emerged he had made false statements to the court. Documents released by Formation, Proactive's holding group, proved Stretford was representing Rooney in September 2002, three months before his deal with McIntosh ran out.

Yesterday's charges relate to alleged poaching, contract irregularities, failure to act in a client's interests and misleading statements. Stretford has 14 days to respond.