Manchester United are reportedly confident that they have acted within the law by banishing Jadon Sancho from first-team training. FIFA regulations leave the Red Devils vulnerable to a charge, but Erik ten Hag and co are comfortable that they have taken specific measures to ensure they remain on the right side of the rules.
Almost a month has passed since Sancho’s falling out with Ten Hag was made public. The winger lashed out on social media after the United boss publicly criticised his standards in training.
Ten Hag responded by forcing Sancho to train away from the first team. It is believed that the 23-year-old would be brought back into the fold if he apologised in person to the Dutchman, but he has so far refused.
As a result, Sancho is going through the motions away from his team-mates, with the punishment even banning him from the dressing rooms and canteen.
As pointed out by ESPN, asking a player to train alone could open United up to an ‘abusive conduct’ charge under FIFA’s current regulations. Furthermore, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) are aware of arguments under UK employment law to suggest Sancho has been treated unlawfully.
But United believe that they have met their requirement to provide a high level of training for Sancho by assigning coaches to work directly with him – albeit at Carrington’s academy facilities.
The Red Devils paid £73million to lure Sancho away from BVB in 2021. But the wide man has so far failed to hit the heights he did in Germany, falling out of England contention and struggling for first-team minutes even before being banished by Ten Hag.
United host Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, but no timeframe has been put on Sancho’s return to the squad, meaning he could miss out once again.
