Following Chelsea's illegal approach for Lens starlet Gael Kakuta, an approach that has recently been severely punished, Lens' French counterparts Le Havre have decided to launch a complaint to FIFA about Manchester United's approach for midfielder Paul Pogba. You may remember my article on Pogba some weeks ago now. If you don't, look at it. Thanks.
The French side, notorious for producing exciting talent and then having them pinched by Premier League clubs - note Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle - were upset with United's inquest into signing Pogba, deeming their act as 'foolish'. Now, with the knowledge and confidence that FIFA are willing to act on such misdemeanous, Le Havre will be taking action.
United have denied they are in the wrong, claiming everything they have done has been within the UEFA guidelines. However, Le Havre managing director Alain Belsoeur is determined for the English champions to be treated in the same way as Chelsea.
"We are still pursuing our case. It's 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." Belsoeur went on to say, "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."
From a neutral perspective it would seem strange should FIFA find United guilty and not put the same ban on them as they have done with Chelsea. Punishments are punishments and at the end of the day, and whether it's Manchester United or Mansfield Town, everyone has to be treated the same. English clubs have a history with snapping up young Frenchmen. I've already mentioned Le Tallec and Sinama-Pongolle who both made the move to Anfield, and Charles N'Zogbia was the subject of some controversy as well, when he made the switch from Le Havre to Newcastle in 2004. The signs from FIFA and the governing bodies are positive however. Punishments and bans such as the Chelsea ban will show clubs that they have some sort of protection when it comes to bigger clubs poaching their young talent. However, in this day and age, the likes of United, Real Madrid, Manchester City are going to come looking for young, fresh talent, and whether they like it or not, the Le Havre's of this world are going to have to deal with it.
