Portsmouth Set to Be Given Permission to Sell Players

A second dangerous Premiership precedent could be set this week, as FIFA are reported to be looking favourably on Portsmouth's request to sell players outside the transfer window.

The news will come as a boost to David James, who is seeking a move away from Fratton Park to enhance his World Cup prospects.

However, Nadir Belhadj will have to wait to see whether reported interest from Barcelona materialises, as the exception is set to apply only to moves between Pompey and other Premiership clubs.

The other 19 Premiership clubs will have to agree to the move, but it is understood that they are unwilling to let Portsmouth go bust. With the integrity of the competition at stake, they would be reluctant to cancel all of Portsmouth's results as it could seismically affect the table.

However, after the FA's decision to fine Wolves for fielding an under-strengthed team at Old Trafford set one precedent, the decision to allow transfers outside the window due to the little known "club in crisis" rule would set another.

At what point can a club be considered to be "in crisis?" Is it really for the FA or FIFA to make such a distinction? How fair are these exceptions on other clubs, who have not enjoyed Portsmouth's recent success, but have instead more astutely managed their finances?

How fair would it be for Tottenham Hotspur, for example, to claim fourth place in the league based on a string of inspired performances by David James?

As we have seen this week, though, the decision making process at the FA can often seem to lack any logic, and to favour bigger clubs, so do not be surprised if James does, indeed, end up at White Hart Lane before the summer.