Nottingham Forest feels disrespected and has given their legal team the go-ahead to write a letter to Tottenham Hotspur and Morgan Gibbs-White’s agent, informing them of a brewing legal case against both parties over the unlawful approach for Gibbs-White and a breach of confidentiality laid out in the player’s contract.
Referring to the Premier League rule book, Rule T.3 states that a buying club must obtain written permission from the selling club before approaching any player; otherwise, they face disciplinary action.
“Any Club which… makes an approach either directly or indirectly to a Contract Player except as permitted by either Rule T.1.2 or Rule T.2 shall be in breach of these Rules and may be dealt with under the provisions of Section W (Disciplinary) of these Rules.”
In Gibbs-White’s case, there is a conflict between the rights of the employer and those of the employee.
Forest have a contractual agreement for the terms of Gibbs-White’s contract – and specifically the level of his release clause – to be kept confidential, so if that has been breached, they have a legal case.
Gibbs-White has a contractual agreement that if another club is prepared to pay a certain transfer fee, he can leave the City Ground. He has a potential legal claim there, too.
According to Sky Sports, Nottingham Forest has been trying to open negotiations with Gibbs-White over a new and improved contract for the past 12 months, but he has refused to engage in those talks.
Forest are willing to break the bank and give the 25-year-old huge pay rise, in exchange for the removal of the release clause, which will automatically make him the biggest earner at the club.
Asked to comment on the matter, Tottenham has refused to do so. Gibbs-White has two years left on his contract with Forest. He has made 118 appearances in three years with the Reds, scoring 18 goals and providing 28 assists.
