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Published: Tuesday September 8, 2009 MYT 3:54:00 PM

MU threatens Le Havre over cash claims

LONDON (AP): Manchester United threatened Le Havre with legal action Monday if the French club continues to claim financial inducements were paid to the family of a teenager signed by the Premier League champions.

According to Le Havre president Jean-Pierre Louvel, Paul Pogba's parents were offered cash and a house by United to lure the 16-year-old midfielder to Old Trafford in July.

United said it will rigorously defend any complaint by Le Havre to FIFA, which last week banned Chelsea from signing any players until 2011 for encouraging French striker Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens to join them.

"United has today written to Le Havre AC to put it on notice that action will be taken if such allegations are repeated in relation to the transfer of Paul Pogba," United said in a statement. "Manchester United is entirely satisfied that the transfer of Paul Pogba has been conducted in accordance with the regulations set down by the world governing body, FIFA.

"Manchester United is ready to defend any claim brought against it by Le Havre at FIFA ... We do not offer inducements to the parents of players who sign for the club such as monetary payments or the purchase of houses."

Despite the threat of action by United, Le Havre director Alain Belsoeur maintained that Pogba was stolen by the English side and didn't refute his colleague's claim that the player's parents were each offered euro100,000 as well as a house.

"We don't want to get involved in this kind of polemics (about money)," Belsoeur told The Associated Press by telephone. "The only question that matters is: Was Pogba under contract with Le Havre? And the answer is clearly yes. Did Manchester steal a player who was under contract? The answer is yes.

"That's why the French football federation refused to sign Pogba's release certificate. Pogba was under contract with Le Havre."

United said the registration of the former France under-16 captain has been fully ratified by England's Football Association and the Premier League.

"As long as the transfer is not ratified by FIFA, he cannot play," Belsoeur said.

Pogba has captained the national team at under-16 level and is highly rated in France.

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