They would only miss one or two transfer window probably if they win the appeal. And 2 years ain't that long. Their players could still keep on playing well till then.

Manchester United seem certain to launch a vigorous defence of their position if the case of former Le Havre youngster Paul Pogba is referred to Fifa.

Chelsea have vowed to appeal against a ban on signing players for the next two transfer windows after being found guilty of improper conduct in their recruitment of Gael Kakuta from French club Lens.

Le Havre have confirmed they are requesting Fifa to investigate the case of Pogba, who they claim had agreed to join them, only to walk out in favour of the Old Trafford outfit.

Fifa have so far failed to register Pogba's arrival at Old Trafford, although United insist they have done nothing wrong.

"It is complete nonsense," a spokesman for United said. "Everything has been done within Uefa guidelines."

However, Le Havre managing director Alain Belsoeur claims to have documentation showing United offered inducements for Pogba to join them and has vowed to include it in submissions to the world's governing body.

"We are still pursuing our case," Belsoeur told The Times. "It is a very serious case. We are confident that we'll win because it is in the best interests not just of our club but of sport.

"We spend €5 million on our academy every year out of a turnover of €12 million. It is 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."

No EPL match for this weekend, boring~~

Manchester United midfielder Rodrigo Possebon could be sent back to Old Trafford just two months into a year-long loan to Portuguese side Braga.
Coach Domingos Paciencia was so unimpressed with his only appearance that he substituted him after 34 minutes. (The Guardian)

gerrard lim is geting more and more fishy with his posting

No EPL match for this weekend, boring~~

Same here. I'm still thinking if i should go to mamak and watch england vs slovenia's match 

come la lets organize gathering since such a boring weekend

Manchester United have insisted that they have no case to answer over the signing of Paul Pogba from Le Havre this summer.

The French outfit were furious after United signed their 16-year-old starlet, dubbing United's tactics as a "foolish act".

It is now expected that La Havre will seek action from FIFA, following on from their decision to ban Chelsea from signing any players until July 2011 after the Blues were alleged to have induced Gael Kakuta to break his contract with another French club, RC Lens.

Pogba's registration with United has not yet been ratified by FIFA and the French club have not so far made their case to the governing body. A FIFA spokesman said: "There has been no receipt of any complaint by Le Havre regarding this player as of today."

United have strenuously denied they have done anything wrong in signing Pogba. "It is complete nonsense,'' a spokesman for United said. "Everything has been done within UEFA guidelines.''

English clubs have a long history of run-ins with French clubs over the plundering of young talent. In 2004, Le Havre also lost Charles N'Zogbia to Newcastle United and were furious that FIFA supported the transfer under freedom of movement.

And Le Havre managing director Alain Belsoeur claims to have documentation showing Manchester United offered inducements for Pogba, the France Under-16 skipper, to join them. And he wants the Red Devils to be treated in the same way as Chelsea.

"We are still pursuing our case,'' Belsoeur told The Times. "It is a very serious case. We are confident that we'll win because it is in the best interests not just of our club but of sport.

"We spend €5m [about £4.3m] on our academy every year out of a turnover of €12m. It is 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.''

At the time of the Pogba signing, Le Havre stated: "Le Havre wishes to express its indignation regarding the dealings of Manchester United's directors. This foolish act is even more unacceptable because it comes from a club with such stature. At a time when numerous parties, including at European Union level... are speaking out against the trading of minors, Manchester United does not hesitate to uproot a 16-year-old."

The man who always seemed to play the game with such joy has decided to call time on his career...

Dwight Yorke, the forward who won a Champions League winners medal with Manchester United in 1999 after enjoying a successful career with Aston Villa, has announced his retirement from professional football.

Yorke, who also captained Trinidad & Tobago at the 2006 World Cup, joined Aston Villa in 1989, before moving to Old Trafford in 1998 for £12.6 million. He won three successive league titles with the Red Devils, scoring 64 goals in 151 appearances for the club, before moving to Blackburn Rovers in 2002 and Birmingham City in 2004.

A short spell in Australia with Sydney FC was followed by a return to England with Sunderland in 2006, where he played mainly as a holding midfielder.

"I hope people will say that I played the game in the right way with a smile on my face," Yorke told BBC Sport.
"While I'm still in great shape, I'm not getting any younger and I've had the time of my life.

"I've been blessed really. I've played alongside some of the greatest players the Premier League has ever seen in Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel, and played for the greatest manager in Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I'll always count myself lucky. I was a boy on a beach from a little Caribbean island that got the chance to fulfil his dream of winning trophies at the highest level and captaining his country in their first ever World Cup finals."

Yorke recently accepted a position as assistant manager of Trinidad & Tobago for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign, and he reportedly would like to utilise his vast experience by managing in England one day.