EastStandBlue
Life President
- Joined
- May 29, 2005
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Like the Headmaster at a School, FIFA are now rounding up the bullies of the football world and taking them to task... Manchester City the latest club to be investigated for illegal transfer activity.
When Lens were succesful in their pursuit of a just punishment for Chelsea FC over the Gael Kakuta affair, they opened the biggest can of worms to grace the Premier League in recent memory, and now both Manchester United and City as well as Liverpool face scrutiny for their acts in the transfer market. The Manchester United case has been bubbling over the last month, as Paul Pogba, the France U16 captain, joined the club after leaving Le Havre. The French club, obviously furious at the loss of their midfielder, let loose as United, claiming they "threw money at the player and his family" in order to induce him to sign.
The case involving United's City counterparts, however, has been bubbling for some time... with 17 year old defender Jérémy Hélan signing for the Citizens some time earlier this year and Stade Rennais launched a complaint immediately. City are using the fact that the player was already in a civil dispute with his parent club at the time, however they are declining to comment on the case hiding behind the all-to-familiar excuse that they have done everything by the board and will vehemently deny any wrongdoing.
Chelsea are still writhing from their punishment, an ban on transfers for the next two windows which will last into 2011, yet the punishment dished out to Manchester City could potentially be worse. Rennes' technical director Pierre Dreossi stated: "Kakuta signed up for just a possibility of a full contract. For Hélan there was definitely one there, under the terms of the pre-contract agreement, because he had played for his country." FIFA have confirmed they are dealing with a complaint from the French club but, interestingly, state there has been no such complaint from Le Havre regarding Paul Pogba.
So just what is going on between them and Manchester United? The devils are usually immaculate with their transfer policy, as the Tevez affair should testify, and have threatened legal action against Le Havre should they continue to drag the "good" name of Manchester United through the mud. Are Le Havre just trying to squeeze that little bit more compensation out of United by making their feelings public? that remains to be seen, but the fact no complaint was ever lodged certainly leaves the sceptics with a fair amount to talk about.
Liverpool, who under Rafael Benitez seem to buy a new youth player every minute of the day, have been warned off the Crewe youngster Max Clayton after having him watched repeatedly, and Director of Football Dario Gradi said any movement would result in a complaint.
Even if United, Liverpool and City have acted within the law, there is definite cause for concern as now, every move they make will be under the highest scrutiny possible. The likes of Federico Macheda, Davide Petrucci and Franco di Santo have all hopped across the continent to join the Academies of the Premier League, with the players offered lucrative contracts and parents offered all sorts, ranging from jobs to kitchens to houses.
There's been an ill-feeling brewing across the continent for years now, and the doors just might about to be slammed shut.
When Lens were succesful in their pursuit of a just punishment for Chelsea FC over the Gael Kakuta affair, they opened the biggest can of worms to grace the Premier League in recent memory, and now both Manchester United and City as well as Liverpool face scrutiny for their acts in the transfer market. The Manchester United case has been bubbling over the last month, as Paul Pogba, the France U16 captain, joined the club after leaving Le Havre. The French club, obviously furious at the loss of their midfielder, let loose as United, claiming they "threw money at the player and his family" in order to induce him to sign.
The case involving United's City counterparts, however, has been bubbling for some time... with 17 year old defender Jérémy Hélan signing for the Citizens some time earlier this year and Stade Rennais launched a complaint immediately. City are using the fact that the player was already in a civil dispute with his parent club at the time, however they are declining to comment on the case hiding behind the all-to-familiar excuse that they have done everything by the board and will vehemently deny any wrongdoing.
Chelsea are still writhing from their punishment, an ban on transfers for the next two windows which will last into 2011, yet the punishment dished out to Manchester City could potentially be worse. Rennes' technical director Pierre Dreossi stated: "Kakuta signed up for just a possibility of a full contract. For Hélan there was definitely one there, under the terms of the pre-contract agreement, because he had played for his country." FIFA have confirmed they are dealing with a complaint from the French club but, interestingly, state there has been no such complaint from Le Havre regarding Paul Pogba.
So just what is going on between them and Manchester United? The devils are usually immaculate with their transfer policy, as the Tevez affair should testify, and have threatened legal action against Le Havre should they continue to drag the "good" name of Manchester United through the mud. Are Le Havre just trying to squeeze that little bit more compensation out of United by making their feelings public? that remains to be seen, but the fact no complaint was ever lodged certainly leaves the sceptics with a fair amount to talk about.
Liverpool, who under Rafael Benitez seem to buy a new youth player every minute of the day, have been warned off the Crewe youngster Max Clayton after having him watched repeatedly, and Director of Football Dario Gradi said any movement would result in a complaint.
Even if United, Liverpool and City have acted within the law, there is definite cause for concern as now, every move they make will be under the highest scrutiny possible. The likes of Federico Macheda, Davide Petrucci and Franco di Santo have all hopped across the continent to join the Academies of the Premier League, with the players offered lucrative contracts and parents offered all sorts, ranging from jobs to kitchens to houses.
There's been an ill-feeling brewing across the continent for years now, and the doors just might about to be slammed shut.
