FIFA bans Pogba’s agent Raiola from trading in the summer transfer window

May 13 – One of football’s best-known super agents, Mino Raiola, has had a three-month ban on working in his native Italy extended to a global sanction by FIFA.

Raiola, who reportedly counts Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, Ajax’s much-admired teenage skipper Matthijs de Ligt, Arsenal’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan and young Juventus striker Moise Kean among his clients, was handed his original ban from practising in Italy last Wednesday for undisclosed reasons stemming from transfer improprieties.

But FIFA’s intervention means his global business is seriously affected, covering a large part of the summer transfer window.

FIFA’s statement doesn’t divulge the reasons for the ban, adding “For further information concerning the grounds of the sanction please contact FIGC.”

But Raiola’s temporary suspension could play a factor in summer transfers for those he represents, not least Pogba, reported to be seeking a move away from United, and the hugely talented de Ligt, linked with Barcelona. His ban would end just after the English Premier League’s transfer window slams shut and weeks before the rest of Europe does the same.

His cousin Vincenzo, also an agent, saw his Italian domestic suspension likewise extended by FIFA, in his case for two months ending in July.

Raiola says he will take legal action, insisting the suspension follows his criticism of the Italian FA which he has called “weak and non-existent” and who he slammed over recent racism controversies.

He says his sentence is “based on false grounds and lies”.

“I guess that Italian Football Association has not forgiven me when I have diffused my critics for their role in the disastrous state of Italian football, as well as their role around the latest episode of the racism problem.”

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711711743labto1711711743ofdlr1711711743owedi1711711743sni@w1711711743ahsra1711711743w.wer1711711743dna1711711743