Sochaux ask FIFA to slap down Newcastle on Maiga

French football club Sochaux have asked FIFA to stop Newcastle courting their Malian international striker Modibo Maiga, the French side said yesterday. “FC Sochaux-Montbeliard sent this Monday, August 22, 2011 a referral to FIFA in order to stop...

French football club Sochaux have asked FIFA to stop Newcastle courting their Malian international striker Modibo Maiga, the French side said yesterday.

“FC Sochaux-Montbeliard sent this Monday, August 22, 2011 a referral to FIFA in order to stop Newcastle United continuing their contacts with Modibo Maiga, contractually linked to FCSM till 2014,” Sochaux said in a statement.

“This is because they were in violation of Article 18 of the current international regulations,” by approaching the player without consulting his team, it added.

“FCSM asked the English club twice formally but unsuccessfully to stop their actions.”

Maiga is thought to be in conflict with Sochaux’s directors, who insist he is not for sale despite his wish to leave. He missed Sochaux’s 2-1 Ligue 1 win at Nancy on Sunday, as did midfielder Kevin Anin, who has been linked to Arsenal.

Maiga boycotted his side’s 2-1 home defeat to Caen on August 13 and was left out of the squad for the goalless Europa League tie with Metalist Kharkiv in Ukraine on August 18.

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