Apparently FIFA have cleared Utd of inducing Pogba to break his contract with Le Havre.

"a judge appointed by Fifa ruled that, because of his age, Le Havre could not have got an agreement for Pogba to sign a professional contract."

Wasn't that our argument with Kakuta? That his "pre contract" agreement with Lens had no legal status and wasn't binding? Also, wasn't he the same age as Pogba?

Maybe the details are completely different but on the face of it it looks like one rule for us and another for Utd. although, maybe it will help our appeal.

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Both players were the same age, both players were at French clubs, both players were on pre-contracts (illegally??) under the age of 16.

Cant see any difference on the surface of it, but i bet someone from FIFA will be along to explain, rule 461, sec 92, paragraph 34, clause 22, "Chelsea FC are always guilty".

I think its more about Pogba being defined as an Amateur that makes the contract unenforcable

The Frogs have two pre-contract agreements Pogba had type A and Gail type B

If this is true this is an absolute f**king joke how can we be punished and those manc bar stewards get away with it even though it seems the two cases are very similar

;)

I've read everything there is tp read on the Kakuta case - thge UK press, which is next to useless (so poor is teir research), the French press, which is a lot more detailed, and mind-numbingly tedious stuff on the official French websites explaining youth contracts.

Everything I've read has convinced me that Kakuta was not under a professional contract, as he was not eligible to sign one. He did not meet the criteria for a 'contrat aspirant, which Lens claim he signed ( or rather claim his mum signed)as he was too young and hadn't completed his secondary education. Even if he had signed this type of contract, FIFA are well aware of its highly dubious legality, as it conflicts with both French and European law. They admit this on their website when reporting a similar case a couple of years ago

The last thing I read was from a French scout Guy Hillion who now works for us:

Gaël turned 16 in June 2007 and joined Chelsea in July that year. His age permitted any European transfer.

Gael comes from a centre run by the FFF, Lievin North. His mother signed an agreement with Lens 3 years ago. A future contract which was to be signed when he left the centre, once he'd turned 15. But due to an administrative error by Lens this contract could not be ratified as the player hadn't completed his first phase of secondary education, which is a compulsory requirement in France. He was repeating his third year (=Year 10 in UK) and therefore signed a one-year amateur licence, registered with the Northern League, for the 2007-8 season. Which allowed his mother, after giving official notice, to sign with a club of her choice.

http://www.mercato365.com/etranger/anglete...-pillage-.shtml

It's astonishing that they cleared Manure so quickly, but took two years to deal with Lens's complaint.

This just adds more fuel to our burning sense of injustice at the hands of FIFA and UEFA. I'm confident our lawyers can show the Kakuta decision up for what it is.

I'm confident our lawyers can show the Kakuta decision up for what it is.

If they cant, they want sacking.

Cant really say I'm shocked at all. A team as big as Manchester United could never have induced Pogba at all. They have 'pedigree' and 'history'. Just more confirmation that European and world football is just a back-scratching old boys club.

In the wake of their crumbling over the Eduardo ban, I just cannot see our transfer ban being completely overturned. Reduced maybe, but i'm sure they will offer us a reduced ban to avoid its flimsiness being dragged into the open

Is anyone here not surpised by this?

so let me get this straight. it took them over 2 years of investigation to find us guilty of signing a player under 16 who had signed a contract. yet it took them about 2 months to find utd innocent of signing a player under 16 because under 16`s in france arent allowed to sign a contract...unbelievable, yet not surprising in the least.

Having read a bit more, Manure have NOT been cleared of an illegal approach, despite what they claim in their statement. FIFA have granted 'provisional clearance' to Pogba.

This is no different to what occurred with the Kakuta deal, which couldn't have happened without the deal being given official sanction in 2007.

What's absurd is that FIFA have issued the certificate whille the FFF have not okayed it.