English Premiership
Reds apologise to Fulham
2012-12-12 16:45
Dempsey has since joined Tottenham (AFP)
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London - Fulham on Wednesday withdrew their complaint about Liverpool's pursuit of Clint Dempsey after receiving a formal letter of apology from the Merseyside club.
Fulham reported Liverpool to the English Premier League during the close season after a story appeared on the website of Reds owners Fenway Sports Group claiming the American midfielder had joined them.
Although Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admitted he was interested in Dempsey, his club's failure to make an official bid prompted Fulham coach Martin Jol to assert that Liverpool had unsettled his player.
Dempsey ultimately elected to join Tottenham Hotspur, but Fulham were pressing ahead with their complaint until Liverpool chairperson Tom Werner contacted his Fulham counterpart Mohamed Al Fayed to say sorry.
"Fulham can confirm that it has today (Wednesday) withdrawn the complaint made against Liverpool FC in regard to the Merseyside club's inappropriate actions surrounding interest in Clint Dempsey over the summer," read a statement on the Fulham website.
"Liverpool's chairman Tom Werner apologised personally to Mohamed Al Fayed, stating that his club were wholly responsible for unprofessional behaviour toward Fulham and emphasised his regret for the entire episode.
"In a letter from Liverpool to Fulham's CEO Alistair Mackintosh, Tom Werner's praise of the magnanimous gesture from the chairman was reiterated, as was the club's assurance that the conduct of Liverpool was simply not acceptable.
"The chairman decided that this sincere action was enough, and as a gesture of goodwill, instructed that all complaints against them be dropped."