The tricky case of John Obi Mikel

[Dirk]

The tricky case of John Obi Mikel

Mihir Bose - BBC sports editor

Morgan Andersen, former director of the Norwegian club Lyn, has been convicted of forging a contract with John Obi Mikel, the player who became embroiled in a transfer row between Manchester United and Chelsea.

The court case in Norway may have no bearing on Mikel’s status as a Premier League player, and did not concern either Manchester United or Chelsea, but it shines a light on the often mysterious and dark ways in which young African players end up in Europe.

The case has always generated great interest in Norway as well as bemusement as to why there is little interest in England in a matter involving a Premier League player whose moves first to Manchester United and then Chelsea sparked great controversy and no little amount of transfer fees.

In Norway, the case was diligently pursued by the police and the prosecutors and led to such interest that when the trial began, Anderson's supporters gathered outside the courthouse in Oslo proclaiming his innocence.

The case produced some fascinating testimony as to how young African players are recruited.

This included testimony by Rune Hauge, the well-known Norwegian agent, who claimed Chelsea were behind the placing of four young Nigerians - including Mikel - in Norway waiting for them to reach 18-years-of-age.

He also said Chelsea paid for everything. The court also heard testimony that Chelsea had violated Fifa regulations.

The Norwegian prosecutor, Sven Holden, was concerned with Mikel’s first professional contract with Lyn.

In court, Holden read out a statement Mikel had given the Norwegian police. Mikel said he had signed two contracts before he turned 18.

The first was with Andersen and Mikel's Nigerian manager John Shittu. However, according to Mikel, Andersen told him the contract was not valid because Shittu wasn't his legal guardian.

Mikel then signed a new contract with Andersen and his father. Both contracts were for one year.

Mikel has also said he always believed he would play for Chelsea and would only stay in Norway until he was 18. But then he said he was told by Chelsea to carry on living in the country a bit longer to get better acquainted with the Norwegian league.

During this period he signed no new contracts but he was pressured by Andersen to accept an offer from Manchester United. He was worried Andersen might halve his pay and prevent him from playing.

The prosecution case was that Andersen used the signatures on the amateur contract to forge Mikel's professional contract, essential for the deal with Manchester United.

Holden told the court that Andersen falsified the contract, enabling him to sell Mikel to Manchester Untied and profit from the deal.

Had there been no contract, Holden claimed "Lyn would have been left with crumbs when Mikel disappeared out of the club".

Holden added: "I'm convinced that there was no contract between Lyn and Mikel. At the same time I'm convinced that Morgan Andersen falsified the contracts and that the court should convict him.”

Mikel was eventually transferred to Chelsea which saw the London club play Manchester United £12m and Lyn a further £4m.

Andersen, who vigorously protested his innocence in court, claimed he was offered £200,000 pounds in cash by agent Jerome Anderson, for changing sides from Manchester United to Chelsea in the summer of 2006.

He has also claimed Shittu turned up at his office in September 2004 demanding £100,000 from Lyn.

Andersen also likened Chelsea's treatment of Mikel and others as trafficking in players.

The court found Andersen guilty on all counts and also convicted him of filing a false police report against Mikel's agent.

Andersen was given a one-year suspended sentence against which he is appealing.

A Chelsea spokesman told me: "Any evidence during the case that attempts to discredit Chelsea has been completely discredited itself by the result of the case as we are talking about someone who is a convicted criminal."

BBC SPORT | Mihir Bose

[G Richards]

I'm a bit surprised all of this hasn't really been prominent in the press here. Murky dealings, and neither Chelsea or Man Utd come out of it well.

[DT]

Originally Posted by G Richards

I'm a bit surprised all of this hasn't really been prominent in the press here. Murky dealings, and neither Chelsea or Man Utd come out of it well.

And therein lies the answer.

[dark train]

If this was us there would be a column down one side of the front page so you knew it was all over the back 4 pages !

[silverlining]

"Fat Tracy Chapman"

(c) someone off of here

Class.

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by silverlining

"Fat Tracy Chapman"

(c) someone off of here

Class.

My pleasure.


"Your dad's got a fast car! Your dad's got a fast car! na na na na OI! na na na na OI!"

[rebel23]

if this was Liverpool it would be all over the back pages with Lord Stevens set to investigate and the FA coming down hard on such corrruption with record fines and mass hysteria

[Unrighteous]

It's not tricky at all...

Let's see... Two fucking waste of life, piece of shite, cheating, houses of absolute human diarrhea fight over a compete dirty scumbag of a player using their cloak and dagger approach to transfers.

[Tom R]

I just can't believe that two clubs would fight over such a fucking appaling player. I laughed my tits off at the whole thing.

Chelsea had just signed Shevschenko as well at the time, which made it even funnier. I knew they would both prove to be fucking shit.

[WaltonRed]

If it was us they'd throw the book at us, Platini would be involved but alas they allow those two to do whatever they want.

[Unrighteous]

Oh my.. I typoed in my earlier post. It should read "COMPLETE dirty scumbag..."

[t1971]

If the contract with United was forged, then would Chelsea not have a case for reclaiming the ridiculous amount of money they ended up splashing out on him?

[bobhorse]

Originally Posted by Tom R

My pleasure.


"Your dad's got a fast car! Your dad's got a fast car! na na na na OI! na na na na OI!"

Tom You should have gone to specsavers

[Mr.Smoketoomuch]

Originally Posted by t1971

If the contract with United was forged, then would Chelsea not have a case for reclaiming the ridiculous amount of money they ended up splashing out on him?

Their lawyers are looking into it, but the it's belived that they won't go down that road.

I think Mikel will be a fantastic player for Chelsea. Already a top player at the age of 21.

[Rashid]

Anderson was in collaberation with United to get the player to them... he lied and he fucked up. United knew this and still tried to rush it through... Chelsea were having none of it... Chelsea came out well.. but I bet none of the media has a witch hunt against United and "their man" Anderson.

[manwiththestick]

Originally Posted by Mr.Smoketoomuch

Their lawyers are looking into it, but the it's belived that they won't go down that road.

I think Mikel will be a fantastic player for Chelsea. Already a top player at the age of 21.

Your name says it all i think!

[The Chief]

Originally Posted by Mr.Smoketoomuch

Their lawyers are looking into it, but the it's belived that they won't go down that road.

I think Mikel will be a fantastic player for Chelsea. Already a top player at the age of 21.

Just what the fuck are you smoking? Mikel a fantastic player? I agree with young Thomas on this one, I laugh my bollocks off every time he steps onto the pitch. "12 million quid, snigger snigger, another 4 million quid, guffaw guffaw".

[RoboRiise]

Originally Posted by silverlining

"Fat Tracy Chapman"

(c) someone off of here

Class.

Originally Posted by Tom R

My pleasure.


"Your dad's got a fast car! Your dad's got a fast car! na na na na OI! na na na na OI!"

You'll be getting the bill for my bladder surgery then, Mr Ross.

The only aspect of this sorry saga that really disappoints me is that the plate-faced cunt didn't suffer myriad personal and professional disasters throughout the period described. I don't even need to name the last player I saw that was his size and as big a shithouse, do I?

[RedinSweden]

Jon Obi Mikel rents his arse out to MPs

[RoboRiise]

For ten bob a go.