Pogatetz problem for Middlesbrough
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Article summary
The Football Union of Russia has imposed a six-month ban on Middlesbrough FC's new signing Emanuel Pogatetz.
Article body
Early dismissal
The punishment relates to an incident last Saturday, 25 June, when the Austrian - playing on loan at FC Spartak Moskva from Bayer 04 Leverkusen - was sent off in the tenth minute of the Russian Premier-Liga match against FC Shinnik Yaroslavl, following a tackle on midfielder Yaroslav Kharitonsky that left the Shinnik player with a double leg fracture.
FIFA role
FIFA is yet to confirm whether the ban applies worldwide, although RFU competition operations department director Sergei Kulikov said he expects it to apply in England under new FIFA rules. Pogatetz, 22, completed a move from Leverkusen to Middlesbrough earlier this week, signing a five-year deal with the Premiership club following his spell at Spartak.
