Fifa clears Man Utd over Pogba deal but Juventus face charges

BBC
BBC
Paul Pogba

Manchester United have been cleared by Fifa of wrongdoing in the deal to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus last August.

However, football’s world governing body will open disciplinary proceedings against the Italian champions after asking both clubs last month for “clarification on the deal”.

The enquiry was believed to concern who was involved in the £89.3m transfer, and how much they were paid.

It has been reported Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, earned £41m from the deal.

A Fifa spokesman said: “We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Juventus FC. We cannot comment further as proceedings are ongoing.

“We can confirm that no disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Manchester United.”

It has been alleged Fifa’s interest in the transfer could be related to the issue of third-party ownership, although that has been denied by Raiola.

France midfielder Pogba, 24, is in his second spell at Old Trafford, having left the club for Juventus for £1.5m in 2012.

The France midfielder first joined United from French side Le Havre in acrimonious circumstances in 2009. He returned to the club last summer for a world record fee of 105m euros.

United also agreed to pay Juventus 5m euros (£4.5m) in performance-related bonuses plus other costs, including 5m euros if Pogba signs a new contract.

When they confirmed the transfer, Juventus said the “economic effect” to their club was “about 72.6m euros”.

A book published in Germany last month – The Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football – and reproduced in media reports, included what it says is a breakdown of the fee for the France international.

When contacted by the BBC last month, Raiola declined to comment and said the matter was in the hands of his lawyers.

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