Reading have been hit with a £200,000 fine for breaching Rule E1.2 relating to intermediaries in 2019.

It was alleged that Reading and former CEO Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes – acting on behalf of the Club – as well as Intermediary Glen Tweneboah agreed for the latter to have an interest in relation to a registration right or an economic right, namely to receive payments contingent on the future transfer of a player, which was a breach of The FA’s Intermediary Regulations. 

Reading FC, Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes denied breaching Intermediary Regulation E5, but admitted a charge of improper conduct.

An independent panel found all charges to be proven, and subsequently imposed a £200,000 fine on Reading , while Howe has been fined £5,000 and suspended for a total of 12 months. During the first six months, Mr Howe is suspended from involvement with player contract negotiations and transfer-related activity, and for the latter six months he is suspended from all football and football-related activity.

Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes have each been warned regarding their future conduct.

Intermediary Tweneboah denied all charges, however they were found proven and he has been fined £15,000 and suspended for six months from all football and football-related activity, including intermediary and football agent services, effective from 4 October 2024. 

The club have released a statement and are 'extremely disappointed with the decision and with the fact that, in addition to charges against the Club, charges were brought against individual club officials who were acting to protect a valuable club asset and ultimately the best interests of Reading Football Club.'