Michael Ball has broken ranks to discuss one of the strangest transfers of the EBT era at Ibrox.
In August 2001, despite already having Arthur Numan to play at left-back Rangers (IL) spent £6.5m on the 22-year-old Everton defender who was viewed as a future England captain. Everton were managed at the time by Walter Smith, a good friend of Dave Murray.
Ball’s time at Ibrox was undermined by injury problems, making just 49 SPL starts in four years before being sold to PSV Eindhoven.
Despite his lack of appearances Rangers renegotiated the deal at one stage because Everton were due an additional payment which brought his Ibrox career to a halt.
After helping Rangers (IL) into the group phase of the Champions League in August 2005 Ball was rapidly transferred to PSV Eindhoven for a fee reportedly of £1.5m.
Everton were due a cut of any future transfer fee but the First Tier Tax Tribunal exposed how Rangers (IL) reduced the fee paid by arranging a very generous commission to an agent which effectively denied the Goodison club of money.
From witness statement at the FTT. The last 2 pages are most relevant if you are in a hurry. pic.twitter.com/Eg6sWaRQMR
— Rangers Tax-Case (@rangerstaxcase) November 9, 2017
Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated, @Everton ?
Remember that deal you did with Rangers over Michael Ball’s re-sell fee? pic.twitter.com/yiHL0wY5Vx— Rangers Tax-Case (@rangerstaxcase) July 12, 2017
Remember all those questions about Rangers defrauding Everton & @bally03 out of their share of the PSV transfer fee?
— Rangers Tax-Case (@rangerstaxcase) November 9, 2017
I’m still waiting for explanation about this off @ScottishFA & @PFAScotland
— Michael Ball (@bally03) November 10, 2017
Like the Graeme Souness EBT while managing Blackburn Rovers it seems that the football authorities have no appetite to investigate the murky side of the game even wen it is shown up in black and white.
Andrew Dickson who was involved in all contract negotiations was voted onto the SFA Congress at the start of this season.
