Fulham lose Tigana appeal

Last November Fulham lost their High Court claim for damages against Tigana, whom they had accused of overpaying by millions of pounds for two signings. Tigana won a counter-claim that he was entitled to payments and share options worth over £2.1m.

Fulham had claimed that the Frenchman paid too much for Edwin van der Sar and Steve Marlet, as well as working secretly on transfer deals in breach of his duty to the club. However, dismissing the claim and backing Tigana, who was the club's manager from July 2000 to April 2003, Mr Justice Elias said: "I consider that the defendant has behaved properly and conscientiously in his dealings with Fulham and did not act dishonourably towards the club."

Challenging that decision at the Court of Appeal, Fulham claimed that the judge had come to findings which were "inconsistent".

However, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, said: "Mr Tigana was acting in what he perceived to be the best interests of Fulham ... he did not conceal his actions, and [the club's chairman] Mr [Mohamed] Al Fayed did not consider this to be an act of misconduct at the time."