Man Utd Wade Into Transfer Row With Legal Threat

The knock-on effect from FIFA’s transfer ban on Chelsea for illegal approaches to under-age players is continuing with Manchester United now stating that they will take legal action against French club Le Havre unless they stop making allegations about the transfer of 16-year-old Paul Pogba.

The French club have repeated claims that United offered financial inducements to Pogba’s family in order to lure the teenager to Old Trafford. However United are satisfied the transfer was completed within FIFA guidelines.

FIFA, world football’s governing body, says it has received no complaint about United’s signing of the 16-year-old French midfielder.

The Old Trafford club has now written to Le Havre warning the French side against making further accusations.

‘In response to the wholly unfounded comments widely reported in the media of Le Havre AC President, Jean-Pierre Louvel, Manchester United wish to categorically confirm that as a matter of club policy and in accordance with the applicable football regulations, we do not offer inducements to the parents of players who sign for the club such as monetary payments or the purchase of houses.’

‘Manchester United have written to Le Havre AC to put it on notice that action will be taken if such allegations are repeated in relation to the transfer of Paul Pogba.

‘Manchester United is entirely satisfied that the transfer of Paul Pogba has been conducted in accordance with the regulations set down by the world governing body, FIFA.

‘It is to be noted that all contractual documentation relating to the player’s registration with the club has already been fully ratified by the Football Association and the Premier League.’

Le Havre, though, have revealed that their legal team is preparing a case to take to FIFA.

‘The matter is with our lawyers right now and it is up to them what we do in regard to FIFA. But I can assure you we fully intend to defend our club’s interests,’ Le Havre’s managing director Alain Belsoeur has stated.

Belsoeur also claims that the French Football Federation (FFF) has yet to sanction to transfer.

‘All I will say now is that when things are done properly in football, transfers between clubs in different countries are cleared by both the local association and the new association,’ he said.

‘That has not happened in this case. The French Football Federation has not granted an international clearance certificate for Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United.’

Players from European Union countries are able to move to Britain on academy or scholarship contracts at 16, and to sign full professional contracts at 17.

By signing a player under the age of 18, the buying club minimises the level of compensation the selling club will get.
 
Le Havre has repeated the allegations in the wake of a transfer ban imposed on Chelsea last week for a similar infringement of the rules.

Chelsea have been banned from signing any new players until January 2011 after the club was found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.