The English Football Association have charged Premiership side and FA Cup holders Portsmouth FC with “breach of rules” regarding the acquisition of Zimbabwean Benjani from Auxerre in January 2006 and the subsequent sale of Benjani to Manchester City in January 2008.

Agent Willie McKay had also been charged with “breach of rules” after representing the selling clubs in both moves as the FA rules against an agent representing two different clubs while dealing the same player.

Portsmouth released a statement saying,  “We did not pay an agent when Benjani joined from Auxerre, and his transfer to Manchester City was approved at the time by the Premier League and the FA’s compliance unit,” it said.

“This is nothing more than a technicality which we will strongly contest.”

Benjani himself is not being charged with anything regarding the moves.

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