FA confirms investigation into Jermain Defoe Portsmouth transfer

On Tuesday, it was claimed that all of Defoe, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and ex-Pompey boss Harry Redknapp had contact with Mitchell Thomas, a former player for Tottenham and West Ham United.

Thomas was understood to have played a major role in facilitating the striker's transfer to Fratton Park, but at the time, the 59-year-old was named on an FA list of known unlicensed agents.

Regulations from 2008 - which are still enforced today - state that the use of unlicensed agents in transfer dealings could lead to severe consequences, such as transfer bans, points deductions and - in the most serious of cases - relegation.

That year, Luton Town were docked 10 points in League Two over gross misconduct relating to agent payments, but the FA took no action against any of the parties involved in the Defoe deal.

However, following the fresh revelations unearthed by The Times, the governing has stated that they are looking into the case once again amid the threat of punishments on Tottenham.

A statement released to the publication by the FA said: "We are looking at the case, and as part of that we will be reviewing the arbitration panel award."

Defoe's switch to Portsmouth 15 years ago was reportedly the subject of an arbitration hearing, where a trio of Queen's Counsel barristers (QCs) concluded that Thomas was indeed a "central figure" in talks.

The wife of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair - Cherie Booth - was said to have been one of three members of the QC panel, who delivered their findings to the FA in January 2010.

The verdict is said to have included records of phone calls between Thomas and all of Levy, Defoe and Redknapp, and the ex-Tottenham striker was also ordered to pay compensation to former agent Sky Andrew, who had earlier sued him for a breach of contract.

In addition, Tottenham chairman Levy has been accused of hiring the services of Stuart Peters - a licensed agent - without a representation contract, which is also a breach of FA rules.

Defoe's £7.5m switch from Tottenham to Portsmouth in 2008 reportedly saw £1.5m shelled out on agent fees - £1m of which went to Peters - and the club would not comment when asked for proof of the representation contract.

Nevertheless, the FA initially took no disciplinary action against any of the parties involved in the transaction, but the governing body may now seek to interview any previous staff members with knowledge of the original situation.

News of Tottenham's alleged breach comes after Everton were docked 10 points for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, the most severe sporting sanction seen in the competition to date.

Spurs have taken 26 points from 12 games this season to sit fourth in the table, two points adrift of leaders Manchester City and one behind Arsenal and Liverpool.