Employment Lawyer Reacts To Deadline Day Drama

The speculation regarding West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino’s future after he criticised the club publicly on Twitter is another example of how football follows different rules to the world of business, according to employment law experts.

Berahino took to social media to reveal his displeasure at the club’s decision to turn down a bid from Tottenham Hotspur on transfer deadline day, stating in comments directed at chairman Jeremy Peace that he was “sad” about how he was treated and that he would “never play”.

West Brom have told BBC Sport that the England Under-21 international has not been fined for the comments, but they expect to discuss the issue in due course.

Jeremy Peace told the club’s website that the actions of Spurs “to get him out of the club cheaply” had left Berahino “very unsettled”.

It is not the first time this summer that a player has gone public with a desire to consider a move away from a club, with Blackburn forward Jordan Rhodes also releasing a statement in July revealing his disappointment at not being able to talk to Championship rivals Middlesbrough about a move.

Commenting on the Berahino issue, Christopher Tutton, a Partner and employment law specialist at Irwin Mitchell, said the matter is likely to rumble on for some time yet.