LIVERPOOL chief executive Rick Parry last night claimed that his former employers at the Premier League had victimised his club over the Christian Ziege affair.
Middlesbrough yesterday confirmed that they are to serve Liverpool with a High Court writ in a bid to win compensation in excess of £2m for the loss of German international Ziege.
Liverpool this week became the first Premiership club to be found guilty of an illegal approach to a player.
A Premier League disciplinary commission ruled that defender Ziege, now with Tottenham, was also in breach of transfer regulations when he moved from Boro to Anfield in a £5.5m deal in August 2000.
But Boro, who hit out at Liverpool's "predatory interests'' in their move for Ziege, are furious that the authorities only imposed nominal fines of £20,000 on the club and £10,000 on the player.
Boro will also pursue an action against Ziege after welcoming the commission's judgement but complaining that the punishment did not fit the crime.
However, ex-Premier League chief executive Parry believes the top flight's ruling body have singled out Liverpool for unfair treatment.
It is understood that the Premier League originally urged the commission to impose a hefty penalty to act as a deterrent.
Parry said: "Doubtless the Premier League will now be busying itself with dozens of other investigations, because this instance is not unique in football.
"As far as the commission is concerned, they were fair and professional and we have no complaints about the way they handled the hearing.''
Boro yesterday released a statement, saying: "We welcome the central finding of the Premier League inquiry, namely that there had been breaches of the League's rules prohibiting poaching of in-contract players, but we are disappointed and deeply concerned at the level of penalties imposed.
"The important purpose that underlines the League's rules is the proper and orderly regulation of all aspects of the game of football, as played at the highest level.
"Unless those rules are rigorously enforced, there is a real risk that they will be disregarded when they conflict with the commercial interests of clubs or players.
"The penalties imposed by the Premier League commission in this case will do nothing to deter those who put their predatory interests before compliance with rules that are intended for the mutual protection of all those involved in the game.
"Consequently, Middlesbrough FC will be pursuing its High Court action against all those involved in this unsavoury incident.
"The British legal system is always available to afford protection to those involved in the game who play by the rules, if football is unable to police itself adequately."
Boro chairman Steve Gibson added: "We are delighted with the findings of the inquiry. It is only what we expected. We are now looking forward to taking this matter further."
Northern Echo Sport exclusively revealed last September that Liverpool and Ziege had been charged by the Premier League, ten months after an investigation was launched into Boro's complaint that the player had been tapped by a third party working on behalf of the Merseysiders.
Ziege had activated a get-out clause in his five-year contract - only a year after joining Boro from AC Milan for £4m - allowing him to speak to any club offering £5.5m for his signature.
But he was forced to take Boro to court to win his release after they attempted to block the deal.
Gibson accused Liverpool and Ziege of "lies and deceit'' and threatened to take the matter back to court unless the Premier League brought both parties to book.
Boro are understood to be seeking a further £2.5m in reparation for losing Ziege, who they believe had a market value of £8m at the time of his transfer. They also maintain that the likes of Chelsea and Valencia were prepared to meet that valuation.
The scene is now set for a needle match, on and off the pitch, when Liverpool visit the Riverside tomorrow for a game which could have a crucial bearing on the seasons of both sides, as the Merseysiders chase the Premiership title and Boro battle for top-flight survival.
Parry is already seen as public enemy No 1 on Teesside through his association with the Premier League at the time Boro were docked three points five years ago for their failure to fulfil a fixture at Blackburn when they had 23 players unavailable.
The decision effectively condemned Boro to relegation, but Parry was yesterday at pains to point out that he had resigned as chief executive by the time the three points were deducted.
Boro also took legal action then when they enlisted the services of the late George Carman QC in a failed attempt to overturn the decision.
* David Elleray will referee the FA Cup semi-final between Boro and either Arsenal or Newcastle at Old Trafford on April 14. Graham Pool will be in charge of the other tie between Fulham and Chelsea
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