In May FIFA began an
inquiry into the move, requesting information about the headline transfer from
United.
But in a statement FIFA
confirmed that while United were in the clear of any wrongdoing, they were
taking action against Juventus.
FIFA have cleared
Manchester United but opened disciplinary proceedings against Juventus over
Paul Pogba’s world record transfer, football’s governing body announced on
Wednesday.
The France midfielder
returned to United in a deal worth more than $111 million, 105.2 million euros)
in August 2016 from the Italian giants.
“We can confirm that
disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Juventus FC.
“We can also confirm that
no disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Manchester United,” the
statement said.
It added: “As proceedings
are ongoing please understand we cannot comment further at this stage.”
Pogba’s move came under
particular scrutiny amid reports the player’s agent Mino Raiola would earn some
49 million euros from the deal.
Raiola is suspected of a
conflict of interest, as he was at the time agent for Pogba, Juventus and
Manchester United.
In May, French website
Mediapart, quoting the Football Leaks documents, claimed: “Pogba in reality
cost 127 million euros to Manchester United with 49 millions going into
Raiola’s pockets and only 78 millions into Juve’s bank account.”
According to the
investigative site, Raiola “didn’t appear to let Manchester United know that he
was also working for Juventus,” an arrangement that is outlawed under English
rules.
Pogba, 24, started his
career with United but made just three appearances in the Premier League before
heading to Italy, after an apparent falling out with then manager Alex
Ferguson.
He flourished in Serie A,
winning four league titles with Juventus between 2012 and 2016.
Pogba appeared in the 2015
Champions League final, which Juventus lost 3-1 to Barcelona.
At the same time, the
powerful midfielder made himself a mainstay of the French national team.
He made his debut in March
2013, just a week after his 20th birthday, in a World Cup qualifier against
Georgia.
He also featured as part of
the 2014 French World Cup squad and was named the tournament’s best young
player.
Pogba’s performances at the
2016 European Championship helped attract the attention of his former club
Manchester United, under new manager Jose Mourinho.
Last season he helped
propel United to a first ever Europa League title, scoring in his team’s 2-0
victory over Ajax in Stockholm on May 25.
AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment