LONDON (AFP) - Portsmouth and football agent Willie McKay were charged by the English Football Association on Thursday with breaches of rules in relation to the transfer of Benjani Mwaruwari to and from the club.

Under the FA's football agents regulations, agents are prohibited from acting for two different clubs in two consecutive transactions involving the same player.

Clubs are not allowed to use the services of an agent in such circumstances, the FA stated.

It is alleged that McKay acted on behalf of Auxerre in respect of the transfer of Zimbabwe striker Benjani from Auxerre to Portsmouth in January 2006.

He is then alleged to have acted for Portsmouth in Benjani's transfer from Portsmouth to Manchester City in January this year. Both parties have until August 29 to respond to the charges.

Portsmouth later "strongly denied" any wrong-doing in the matter.

The statement, on the club's official website, read: "Portsmouth Football Club strongly deny charges by the FA alleging a breach of their regulations concerning the transfer of Benjani Mwaruwari to and from the club.

"We did not pay an agent when Benjani joined the club from Auxerre in January 2006 and his transfer to Manchester City in January this year was approved at the time by the Premier League and the FA's compliance unit.

"This is nothing more than a technicality which we will strongly contest."