Brighton fined over agent rule breach
![]() |
The fine relates to Brighton's purchase of midfielder Dale Stephens from Charlton in January last year.
The Seagulls have also been warned about their future conduct.
Three football agents - Alex Levack, Matthew Kleinman and Ali Rahnama - have been sanctioned and warned after also admitting a breach of rules.
Levack and Kleinman have both been fined £7,500 and suspended from all agency activity and intermediary activity for a period of 14 months.
Seven months of that suspension is immediate, lasting until 16 September, and the remaining seven months is suspended for a period of 12 months.
Rahnama has been given a similar suspension, which lasts for nine months; with three months immediate until 16 May and the remaining six months suspended.
In all three cases the suspended part of their respective bans will be enforced unless there is a further breach of the FA's agent regulations or Fifa's regulations on working with intermediaries.
"We accept that we have been punished in this instance on a technicality, having trusted the word of two licensed agents who the club had dealt with several times previously," a statement from Brighton said.
"The FA accepts neither the club nor any of its employees acted dishonestly.
"Similarly, we accept the FA's findings and as a result have already reviewed and amended our internal procedures when dealing with agents and transfers."
LK