Cardiff owner Vincent Tan to be quizzed by the Premier League over reports he offered squad £3.7m to avoid relegation

A spokesman for Tan has since revealed that the Malaysian businessman has rescinded his offer after being made aware that any bonuses must be agreed before the season starts

Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan has claimed Malky Mackay's decision to air the club's "dirty linen in public" led to his sacking (GETTY IMAGES)

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan could face questions from the Premier League after reports emerged that he offered the players an additional £3.7m financial bonus should they avoid relegation this season.

Premier League regulations state that any performance based bonuses such as a relegation avoidance payment must be officially lodged before the start of the season, with personal benefits needing to be written into a player’s contract.

A Premier League ruling states: “Full details of a player's remuneration including all benefits to which he is entitled whether in cash or in kind shall be set out in his contract. The terms of a contract between a club and a player shall be strictly adhered to.”

It is claimed that Tan offered his players the £3.7m bonus if they maintained the Premier League status in the build-up to the weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Tottenham, but this type of offer must be made before the beginning of the season.

However, it is thought that the club are unlikely to face any disciplinary action after a spokesman for the Malaysian businessman confirmed that Tan was unaware about the ruling and has since withdrawn the bonus offer.

“Vincent didn't realise it was against the regulations,” the spokesman told The Sun. “He has since rescinded the offer, which he made only with Cardiff's best interests at heart.”

The Bluebirds sit second-from-bottom, three points from safety, although this season’s relegation dogfight is far from complete with nine teams separated by nine points. The head into a massive fixture this weekend when they take on basement club Fulham, in a match that could go a long way to deciding who survives the drop this season.

Felix Magath’s side are desperate for points coming off of the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea last weekend, and with the Cottagers on their third manager of the season and four points behind 17th-place West Brom, Fulham really need the three points if they are to stay up come the end of the season.