SOCCER authorities will probe Melbourne Heart over star Harry Kewell’s $1 million-a-year Jeep contract, details of which emerged in a lawsuit against a former Chrysler boss.

Football Federation Australia said it would investigate whether there were any salary cap consequences for Melbourne City, formerly Heart.

The club is believed to have paid Kewell about $80,000 for a one-year deal in 2013-14.

The FFA said it was given information about the Jeep sponsorship deal when Kewell signed with Heart, and was making inquiries with those who held management pos­itions at Heart at the time.

Prominent sports lawyers told the Herald Sun any deal that was not between a club and a player risked being in breach of salary cap rules.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia is suing former managing director Clyde Anthony Campbell, alleging he misappropriated or misused over $30 million in company funds.

It is expected to go to the Federal Court next month to try to freeze assets — including properties in Brighton, Bright and the Gold Coast — linked to Mr Campbell. It claims that he authorised promotional cars for celebrities, including Shane Warne, Elizabeth Hurley and Gary Ablett Jr, beyond his professional capacity and to its commercial detriment.

No allegation has been made against Kewell, Warne, Hurley or Ablett.

Mr Campbell, who is yet to file a defence to the action, ­denies any impropriety.

Kewell was offered a three-year deal — extended for three years after Mr Campbell left FCA — to drive a Jeep and promote the brand. It included incentives “on condition” he sign to Heart in 2013-14 and that $1 million a year be paid to the Harry Kewell Football Academy, according to ­material before the court.

FCA says Mr Campbell breached his employment contract in signing deals with Kewell, including through Elite Sports Properties, and “improperly used his position to gain an advantage for ESP and/or Kewell”.

“The cost of the agreements significantly outweigh the benefits obtained. The full extent of the loss and damage will depend on whether the Kewell transactions are binding,” FCA says in its statement of claim.

FCA argues Mr Campbell had no authority to sign a deal giving the Gold Coast Suns and Ablett access to an “ambassador vehicle” with fuel cards and toll passes in Queensland and Victoria, and disputes his providing promotional vehicles to Warne and Hurley in Britain.

It alleges he misused money to bankroll a lavish lifestyle and travel, make unauthorised investments, and wrongly or without commercial justification enter into contracts at ­inflated prices.

Mr Campbell described the accusations as scandalous, ­arguing he led FCA through a significant period of growth.

mark.dunn@news.com.au