Former England Star Barry ‘Broke Strict FA Rules To Invest £800,000 In Swindon’

Gareth Barry ‘broke strict FA rules’ to make an £800,000 cash injection into Swindon, it has been alleged in court.

The incredible claims were revealed as part of a judgement that was handed down earlier this month by Mr Michael Green QC at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Michael Standing, Barry’s agent, took Swindon chairman Lee Power to court by filing an injunction that claimed he had invested in £800,000 in the club in March 2013.

That was to come in exchange for 50 per cent of the holding company that owns the Robins.

But Power insisted that it was Barry, 39, who put the money into Swindon.

Michael Green, who was sitting as the Deputy Judge of the Chancery Division of the Royal Courts of Justice, found in favour of Standing but said in his judgement: ‘Mr Power does not deny there was another person involved in the acquisition but extraordinarily he says it was not Mr Standing but Mr Standing’s very good friend, the well-known England international footballer, Mr Gareth Barry.’

The judge said Power had claimed there was an oral agreement made with Barry to invest in Swindon at a meeting at the midfielder’s house in March 2013.

Power alleged that Barry was not given shares in the Wiltshere club.

Instead, the cash injection meant that he had the rights to 50 per cent of any future profits Swindon made – including transfers.

The judge said that the deal involving Barry had to be kept secret – given that it was against FA rules for either Barry, as a player, or agent Standing to invest in a club.

It was added that Barry – who played for 53 times for England, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Everton before joining West Brom – denied investing directly in Swindon.

But there was an admission on Barry’s part that he had lent money to ‘good friend’ Standing so that the agent could.

The Judge wrote: ‘Mr Barry says categorically he was not the investor and did not agree anything with Mr Power.’

It was reported by the Sun that Standing took legal action to make sure he benefits from a potential sale of Swindon.

The court also heard that the League Two side were valued at £7.5million.

SOURCE:- allfootballapp