PFA charity’s £1.9m bungle

THE PFA’s charity arm has been given an official warning by the Charity Commission — and told it could face further action — for the ‘mismanagement’ of £1.9million in charitable funds between 2013 and 2019.

An investigation remains open and the PFA charity — now known as the Players Foundation — was told the statutory inquiry has found ‘various failings over a prolonged period of time’.

As well as highlighting ‘a failure to appropriately manage and control £1.9m that had been transferred out of the charity’s accounts,’ the probe has found ‘a failure to ensure its assets were being used in the most appropriate way by failing to review its longstanding relationship with, and payments to, a trade union (the PFA).’ The Charity Commission acknowledged the Players Foundation had ‘taken steps to remedy the failings’ but warned it may ‘take appropriate steps’ against trustees. A PFA spokesperson said: ‘The Professional Footballers’ Association is now separate from the Players Foundation.’