Liverpool given March date for Ziege hearing Liverpool and Christian Ziege will go into the dock in March over the German star's move from Middlesbrough to Anfield.

Middlesbrough say they have been informed the case against the player and his former club - he moved to Tottenham in the summer - will be heard within a matter of weeks.

"We have been informed that the case against Liverpool and Christian Ziege, following his transfer in August 2000, will be heard by a Premier League commission in March," Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said.

The Teessiders complained to the Premier League amid allegations Liverpool made an illegal approach for the player, who activated a get-out clause in his contract to join the Reds just a year after arriving in England.

Boro's then manager Bryan Robson was furious at the way Zeige was lured away, one year into a four-year deal.

Backed by his club, Robson insisted they would fight both for justice and the cash balance for a player he valued at £8million.

Ziege was languishing in AC Milan's reserves when Robson invested £4million in him in August 1999.

Both the player and Liverpool were charged last year, but the Merseysiders were granted further time to prepare their defence.

I knew he was wearing a mask!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

Answers

Fair dues to Boro for trying. I hate the fact that teams 'tap up' players and then get away with it.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

Life for Zeige and relegation for the scouse gits would be appropriate imo.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

He's already got life @ WHL.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

Serves the silly buggers right - why do they think he wanted a get- out clause in his contract? Surely if Boro were happy to sign a contract stating that the player can go if they get an offer above a certain amount for him then they can't complain when exactly that happens. I can't see how they're going to prove that Liverpool knew about the clause anyway, but even if they did I'm not sure if that is relevant. Is it against the rules for a player to share contract details with someone?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

the get out clause in his contract was out of kindness from Boro. Ziege had had an awful time in Italy and was very nervous about being caught out again (presumably he had also seen Teeside). The club reluctantly agreed but did so confident in the knowledge that if he didn't settle then they'd get their money back when he returned to Germany.

I believe that it is part of the contract also to not discuss company business, covering the likes of contract details. It is assumed he spoke to a nice German player at Liverpool about his buy out clause while on international duty, and then Liverpool made an offer at 50p over the price required.

I believe this is the only case that any one knows of where Liverpool have tapped a player up, or tried to unsettle them at their club.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

question is have the FA the balls to dock Liverpool points? i like the idea that all their trouble would ultimately hand us a cl place. now that WOULD be funny.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

I would prefer the points to be subtracted from the season they benefited from him. That would surely make him ineligible in all cup competitions he appeared in for instance...

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2002

Surely if Liverpool and Ziege are proven guilty then the team should be docked 20 points and Ziege along with everyone who has played with him since he left Boro should get a 20 match ban.

Seems fair to me, especially as it would get Spurs and Liverpool out of the way.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002