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PREMIER LEAGUE: UNITED’S HEINZE FORCED TO STAY AT OLD TRAFFORD August 21, 2007
(SomaliNet) Manchester United’s Gabriel Heinze has lost his appeal to force the Red Devils to sanction his move to Liverpool.
Heinze was desperate to join the Merseyside club and claimed to have a letter from United allowing him to leave if a club offered a fee of £6.8million, but a Premier League arbitration panel have now said that he must stay with United.
"The Premier League Board appointed panel have heard submissions of evidence from both parties and has ruled to dismiss the player's case," said a Premier League statement.
The Argentina defender had asked for a three-man panel to decide whether United gave him permission to leave the club for the agreed fee.
However, United maintained they made it clear to Heinze both orally and by letter that he would not be permitted to join one of their title rivals in the top flight, a conclusion that the arbitration panel agreed with.
"The hearing concluded that nature and intention of the disputed 13 June 2007 letter, especially when taken in context of verbal discussions and Manchester United FC's transfer policy, was unambiguous in that it envisages only an international transfer," their statement said.
"Furthermore the hearing finds the letter constitutes an 'agreement to agree', and did not create an obligation or binding agreement for the club to transfer the player to any particular club."
The wording of the statement seem to leave it clear for Heinze to proceed with an international transfer should he wish, with Lyon said to known admirers.
However, the Argentine does also have the right to appeal to the Premier League appeals committee, which is made up of an independent, legally-qualified chairman, a member of the Premier League panel and a PFA appointee.
Henize has two years left on his Manchester United contract but former Old Trafford favourite Paul Parker told eurosport.yahoo.com that he can forget about restarting his career at United.
"British fans are the most passionate in the world and I don't think he really understood the rivalry," he said.
"But to take it as far has he did, calling lawyers in, makes it irretrievable. He cannot play for Manchester United again."-SF & AC / Eurosport