The eagerly anticipated return of Paul Pogba in Manchester United red will go on for at least another five days after the Football Association informed United that the midfielder must serve a one-match ban for a suspension he accumulated in Italy.
Pogba picked up two yellow cards in the Copa Italia, resulting in a one match ban that’s followed him to England. He was cautioned in consecutive matches, the semi-final against Internazionale and the final against Milan, resulting in an automatic one-match ban.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho seemed bemused by the decision, revealing that even he had no idea how it would be enforced.
“I knew the situation with the yellow cards but I didn’t know if an accumulation would bring a suspension. I didn’t know if a suspension from Italian football would be for the corresponding competition in England, which would be the first FA Cup match,” Mourinho told journalists.
With the #PLkickoff this weekend, did you know four players are serving suspensions?
— The FA (@FA) August 12, 2016
However, the FA has made it clear that Pogba will be unavailable for selection for United’s trip to Bournemouth — a match that, in all likelihood, he was probably going to miss anyway as he’s just returned to training with his new club.
United’s second fixture is only five days later — a Friday night match at home against Southampton.
Old Trafford faithful will likely get a glimpse of their ‘new’ £89.7 million signing during that encounter.
(H/T: The Guardian)
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