Palace probe missing cash from Chinese transfer deals

FIFA might be asked to look into the signing of two Chinese players by Crystal Palace following an alleged shortfall in the fee received by the FA in Beijing.

A board meeting at Selhurst Park continued until early today to discuss the problem following allegations Beijing had not received the full GBP1.35 million the club had paid for the pair.

A spokesman for the English FA confirmed it was aware of the problem concerning the missing money.

'Until we receive an official request from Crystal Palace to look into this matter there is nothing we can do to help but it may be we will have to refer this matter to FIFA,' he said.

'Matters like this are usually dealt with strictly between the clubs involved but since this involves a foreign FA then we may well have to ask FIFA to take this up.' Former captain of the Chinese national squad Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai, became the first mainland players to join a British professional side when they were signed by the Eagles at the beginning of the season.

Palace chairman Mark Goldberg said: 'We are disturbed to learn that there is apparently a major discrepancy between the transfer fee, which we agreed with officials of the Chinese FA in London, and the amount which the Chinese FA in Beijing are said to be expecting,' Goldberg said. 'As a result, we have launched an immediate inquiry and have asked the English FA to assist us.' Palace's managing director Phil Alexander confirmed the board would be discussing why the Chinese FA had only received GBP949,367 for the two players, a shortfall of GBP400,000 on the fee paid by the club.