Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise finds himself embroiled in controversy as his agent, Glen Tweneboah, receives a six-month ban for violating transfer regulations during Olise’s time at Reading in 2019. The breach involved Tweneboah’s arrangement to receive a 10% share of Olise’s future transfer fee, despite no such payment ever materializing, as reported by The Athletic.
Having risen through Reading’s academy ranks and signing his first professional contract in 2019, the 22-year-old winger has enjoyed a fruitful season at Palace, netting 10 goals and attracting interest from other clubs, prompting Palace to place a £60 million price tag on him.
In addition to Tweneboah’s ban, Reading faces a hefty fine of £200,000 for their involvement in the breach, leading to the suspension of the club’s former CEO, Nigel Howe, for 12 months, accompanied by a £5,000 fine from an independent regulatory commission.
Despite the ban taking effect from October 4, 2024, allowing Tweneboah to potentially negotiate Olise’s transfer during the upcoming summer window, he also incurs a fine of £15,000. Meanwhile, Reading’s head of football operations, Michael Gilkes, and club secretary, Sue Hewett, have received warnings regarding their future conduct concerning the matter.
In response to the sanctions, Reading expressed their disappointment, deeming them excessive and highlighting that they stemmed from a single agent negotiation. The fallout serves as a cautionary tale within the football community, underscoring the importance of adhering to transfer regulations and the consequences of breaching them.
