Football Briefs: Man United cleared in Pogba deal

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FIFA have cleared Manchester United of any wrongdoing in the transfer of midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus but said on Tuesday they had opened disciplinary proceedings against the Italian side.

World soccer's governing body had asked both clubs for information about Pogba's world record 89 million pounds ($112 million) transfer from Juventus, following leaks which claimed to give details about the huge deal.

A book titled, "The Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football" alleged Pogba's agent Mino Raiola had made over 40 million euros ($44.54 million) from the deal, 27 million euros of which was paid by Juventus.

"We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Juventus FC. As proceedings are ongoing please understand we cannot comment further at this stage," FIFA said in an emailed statement.

"We can also confirm that no disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Manchester United".

FIFA did not give details of the nature of their proceedings against Juventus but some media reports have suggested it could be related to breaches of third-party ownership rules.

In April 2015, FIFA announced the banning of third-party ownership, barring either clubs or players from entering into economic rights agreements with third-party investors.

In an interview with the Financial Times last October, Italian-Dutch agent Raiola said: "In this deal Juventus was not the only owner of the player’s rights".

The report also cited both the agent and Juventus as denying there was third-party ownership relating to Pogba.

Di Maria strikes deal with Spanish prosecutor in tax case

Former Real Madrid player Angel Di Maria has reached an agreement with Spanish prosecutors over a tax evasion charge related to his image rights, a Madrid-based court said on Wednesday.

Di Maria, who now plays for France's Paris St Germain, will plead guilty to two charges of tax fraud, carrying an eight-month prison sentence for each, and pay a 2 million euros ($2.23 million) settlement, the court said.

Under Spanish law, a first-time offender is not required to serve time in jail for a sentence below two years.

The Argentine midfielder is accused of failing to pay some 1.3 million euros to the Spanish tax authorities in 2012-2013 by giving up his image rights to companies based in tax havens, such as Panama.

It was not immediately possible to reach Di Maria's representatives for a comment.

The deal comes amid a lengthening list of cases of tax evasion by high-profile players such as Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, whose charges date back to when he coached Real Madrid.

Mourinho's agents said he had already dealt with questions raised by tax authorities in 2015, settling issues with his 2011 and 2012 filings and reaching a settlement regarding 2013.

Ronaldo has denied any wrongdoing.

Soccer: Mexico urge fans to stop homophobic chant

Mexico's football federation (FMF) has appealed to its fans at the Confederations Cup in Russia to stop a long-used chant which soccer's governing body FIFA says is homophobic.

FIFA said on Tuesday it had warned the FMF about the misconduct of a "small group of Mexican fans in relation to insulting and discriminatory chants" during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Portugal.

Mexico fans have long shouted an insult at keepers taking goal kicks which gay rights groups argue is homophobic.

Mexican media said the chant was heard again on Sunday when Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio took goal kicks, though on a smaller scale than in the past.

"As you know, FIFA is very serious about the chanting that we do when the goalkeeper takes a kick, and the possible sanctions are serious," FMF said in a statement directed at the team's supporters.

"Our efforts on the pitch will come to nothing if, because of this (behaviour), we lose the match, the game is suspended or you are expelled from the stadium.

"We lose, you lose, everyone loses."

Mexico have already been fined eight times during the course of the World Cup qualifying competition because of homophobic chanting.

The matches in question were at home and away to El Salvador, home and away to Canada, at home to Honduras, away to the United States, and at home to Panama and Costa Rica in a period starting in November 2015 until this March.

Mexican media said the chant was also heard at matches at home to Honduras and the US earlier this month, although FIFA could not immediately reached for comment on whether disciplinary proceedings had been opened in those cases.