Search Site: OnlineNigeria

Close






Lyn Oslo could yet be in trouble

Posted by From the Telegraph by Mihir Bose on 2006/10/12 | Views: 602 |

Lyn Oslo could yet be in trouble


The Norwegian police are likely to question John Obi Mikel, Chelsea's young Nigeria midfield player, as they continue to investigate whether there was forgery involved in the contract that he signed with Lyn Oslo, his former club in Norway.

The Norwegian police are likely to question John Obi Mikel, Chelsea's young Nigeria midfield player, as they continue to investigate whether there was forgery involved in the contract that he signed with Lyn Oslo, his former club in Norway.

It was Mikel himself and his agent, John Shittu, who, in November 2005, initiated civil and penal proceedings with the Norwegian authorities, claiming that their signatures on the contract with Lyn Oslo had been forged.


The contract was dated April 22, 2005, Mikel's 18th birthday. Seven days later he signed a pre-contract agreement to join Manchester United, although he later claimed he had been pressured to move to Old Trafford when in fact he wanted to play for Chelsea.

United and Lyn Oslo then contacted Fifa, the world governing body of football, claiming that Shittu was attempting to induce a breach of agreement.


In May 2005 Fifa launched an investigation which not only covered United and Chelsea but Shittu, the Norwegian agent, Rune Hauge, who was advising Chelsea, and the English agent, Jerome Anderson.

It was after Fifa had launched their investigation that Mikel and Shittu filed their criminal complaint which made Fifa suspend their investigation until the Norwegian proceedings were over.


In the meantime, however, both Chelsea and United embarked on talks to try to resolve the issue and in June of this year the whole thing was seemingly settled with Chelsea paying £16 million, £12 million to United, a great deal for a club for whom Mikel had never kicked a ball in anger, and £4 million for Lyn Oslo. As far as Fifa were concerned, that closed the case.

Pal Sverre Hernaes, a police prosecutor with the finance crime division of Oslo Police, told me: "Just because John Mikel and John Shittu withdrew their criminal complaint it does not mean the police stop investigating. This is a complicated case we have been investigating since last year but we hope to have some results by next month."


I understand that Hernaes will first contact the Norwegian man at the centre of the deal, Morgan Andersen, the former director general of Lyn Oslo.

It was in that capacity that Andersen, a former national ice hockey player, brought Mikel to Norway and headed the negotiations with Manchester United. The deal which saw him obtain £4 million for Lyn Oslo from Chelsea was highly acclaimed given that Mikel had been at the club barely a year.


Andersen has since quit his job at Lyn Oslo and is now the sporting director with a rival club, Fredrikstad. He did not return my calls

Read Full Story Here.... :
Leave Comment Here :