LONDON, Jan 24 (AFP) - English champions Arsenal were fined 10,000 pounds by the Football Association here Monday after admitting using an unlicensed agent in the transfer of teenage striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from Ajax.
Arsenal received a warning as to its future conduct and was given a suspended transfer ban but the London club later made it clear they thought they'd been harshly treated and said they were considering an appeal.
The ban was suspended for a period of two years from February 1, 2005 but would be "activated in the event of a further proven breach of the Players' Agents Regulations before FIFA or The Football Association", said an FA statement.
"If activated, the ban will prohibit the club from any national and/or international transfers from the commencement of the next operative transfer window for the duration of that transfer window.
"This decision has been communicated to FIFA and KNVB (Football Association of Holland)."
Article 18 (1) of FIFA Players Agents Regulations states: "Clubs which wish to engage the services of a player may only deal either with the player himself or with a players' agent who holds a Licence issued by a national association in compliance with the provisions of these regulations."
But an Arsenal spokesman said: "It is important to note that the player was already a scholar registered with Arsenal and that the negotiations were not in relation to a transfer.
"The player's representative is a partner in a company run by a FIFA licensed agent with whom the initial discussions were held.
"Arsenal mistakenly also believed that the representative was a licensed players agent. The agent's fee of 2,000 pounds was paid by Arsenal to the company through the English FA.
"The incident was at worst a technical misdemeanour of administration and the club is contemplating an appeal, as it feels the penalty is disproportionate to any offence which may have been committed.
"Arsenal is fully aware of its obligations under the FIFA Players Agents Regulations and indeed has been at the forefront of strengthening the rules regarding agents."
Owusu-Abeyie, now 18 arrived at Highbury in 2002 and the young Dutchman made his first-team debut against Rotherham in last season's League Cup. However, he has yet to play in the Premier League.
01/24/2005 17:45 GMT - AFP