Newcastle United Women have been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after allegedly making illegal approaches to six junior players contracted to their second-tier rivals, Sunderland.
The case will now be heard by an independent regulatory commission, with Newcastle potentially facing a heavy fine if found guilty.
The FA has stated the allegations involve the Sunderland players Isla Burdon-Watson, Isla Hepburn, Josie Dobson, Lily Williamson, Mollie Frewd and Sofia Clark. In each case it is claimed that Newcastle breached the governing body’s transfer rules because they “did not give to the club secretary of Sunderland AFC seven days written notice of its intention to approach the player”.
The six involved are understood to be under-16 players. Burdon-Watson and Clark are believed to have joined Newcastle’s youth system.
Newcastle were given until 6pm on 17 September to respond to the charges. It is understood they have suggested the matter relates to an administrative misunderstanding.
Last Monday Newcastle sacked their manager, Becky Langley, announcing that news just as José Mourinho was about to address the media the night before the men’s team faced Benfica in the Champions League. It is understood Langley’s dismissal was unrelated to the FA charges and all about latterly disappointing on-field performance.
In six years in charge Langley presided over two promotions, lifting Newcastle from the fourth tier to the WSL2, where they are ninth with six points from six games. Claire Ditchburn, formerly the Durham head coach, who has also worked at Everton and Manchester City, is in interim charge.
Sunderland are fifth in WSL2 with nine points from six matches. They, like Newcastle, have promotion ambitions and hope to reach the WSL sooner rather than later.
In July, Sunderland were disappointed to lose their highly-rated goalkeeper Claudia Moan to Newcastle. Moan was last season’s second-tier women’s player of the year after conceding 18 goals in 22 appearances for Sunderland. There is no suggestion of an illegal approach surrounding her transfer.
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Sunderland, Newcastle and the FA have been approached for comment.
