Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

United hit back in Pogba row

04 Sep 2009 - 08:29:14

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Manchester United insist they did nothing wrong when they signed Paul Pogba from Le Havre.

FIFA have Chelsea handed an 18-month transfer embargo after they were found guilty of breaking regulations when they bought French youngster Gael Kakuta from Lens in 2007.

Le Havre have now threatened to report United to FIFA as they were also unhappy with the way last season's Premier League champions persuaded Pogba to move to Old Trafford.

However, a United spokesman insisted: "It's complete nonsense. Everything's been done within UEFA guidelines."

However, Le Havre's managing director, Alain Belsoeur, disagrees and was quoted in The Times as saying: "We're still pursuing our case.

"It's a very serious case. We're confident that we'll win because it's in the best interests not just of our club but of sport.

"We spend 5million euros on our academy every year out of a turnover of 12million euros. It's a huge investment.

"We do that to give a chance to our players to develop for our first team, not to be an academy for others.

"What is the point of investing in an academy if the players leave at 16? This is clearly a message from FIFA to protect the education system."