UPDATE - Stretford has issued a statement regarding the FA punishment.

“I believe the verdicts of the disciplinary panel against me are a travesty of the facts heard by its members during the hearing,” Stretford said in a statement. “These charges came about as a result of my appearance in a criminal trial as a witness for the prosecution against men accused of blackmailing me with menaces. In pursuing their case against me, the FA seems almost wilfully to have cast me as the accused in the trial rather than a prosecution witness acting properly in the interests of justice.

“It has always been my contention that the FA’s case against me should have been heard in public and by an independent panel. Had that been the case, I believe the verdicts would have been very different. I will continue to maintain my innocence of the charges brought against me.”

Stretford must pay the $586,000 fine within 14 days or lodge an official appeal (which will most likely happen).

The FA’s independent commission found Stretford guilty of seven charges relating to his acquisition of the rights to represent Wayne Rooney, failing to lodge representation contracts with the FA and signing the player to an eight-year contract, which exceeded the two-year maximum allowed by FIFA.

Think about how many players are going to be screwed going into contract negotiations with Stretford banned.

England’s Football Association has banned Wayne Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford for 18 months and fined him $586,000 for his “improper conduct.”

“The commission found that Mr. Stretford did encourage Mr. Rooney and his parents to enter into a representation agreement with Proactive Sports Management Limited on July 17, 2002, although he knew Mr. Rooney was still then under contract with Pro-Form Sports Management Limited,” the FA said in a statement.

Stretford represented Rooney in his 2004 transfer from Premiership side Everton to Manchester United and will be lodging an immediate appeal against the charges levied against him.

image via ToffeeandTayto