Blackburn facing FA investigation

The Football Association (FA) will investigate the 2009 transfer of defender Gael Givet from Marseille to Blackburn.

The Frenchman told English newspaper The Sun that he was forced to pay money to an unlicensed agent to help complete his 3.5-million-pound move to Ewood Park in June 2009.

FA rules prevent payments to unlicenced third-parties, and Blackburn’s alleged breach comes just weeks after newly-promoted Premier League side Queens Park Rangers was fined 875,000 pounds for a similar offence.

A FA spokesman confirmed on Tuesday the FA would look at evidence before deciding whether to investigate the matter further.

“We will be looking into the material and the issues that may be raised by the content,” the spokesman said.

Givet, 29, has won 13 caps for France and joined Rovers after a short loan stint with the club.

Before joining Marseille in 2007, he started his professional career with Monaco in 2000 and played in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final, which they lost to Porto.

Blackburn are not yet safe from English Premier League relegation and face a vital trip to Wolverhampton on Sunday.

Rovers are just one point clear of Blackpool and Wigan, who are both in the drop zone ahead of the last day of the season.