THE unseemly row over John Obi Mikel intensified yesterday as Chelsea reacted angrily to a leaked letter from Manchester United demanding that Fifa ban them from signing any players for two transfer windows. The West London club are furious at what they perceive to be an “outrageous smear” on their reputation and, although not pointing the finger at Old Trafford directly, it is clear whom they hold responsible.

United wrote to Fifa on May 18 last year, asking them to impose sanctions on Chelsea amid allegations that they had induced Mikel to break his contract with the club. The Nigeria international expressed his delight at moving from Lyn Oslo to United on April 30, 2005, but changed his mind within a matter of weeks, claiming he had been forced to sign under duress and wanted to play for Chelsea. With the 18-year-old alleging that he had been denied agent representation by Morgan Andersen, Lyn’s sporting director, United claimed that pressure from their rivals was the reason for his U-turn.

Chelsea denied the allegations to Fifa in the strongest possible terms at the time and are angry that they have now been made public. Senior sources at the club also suspect the leak forms part of a campaign to pressure Mikel into honouring his contract.

“Chelsea Football Club is aware that at least one copy of a private and confidential letter from FC Lyn Oslo and Manchester United to Fifa dated May 18, 2005, that made unfounded allegations against Chelsea in the case of John Obi Mikel, has been leaked to the media,” a statement read. “It is outrageous that private and confidential correspondence relating to proceedings before Fifa has been deliberately leaked in this way in an attempt to smear Chelsea ’s name and, more importantly, to undermine an active Fifa process and pressurise Mikel.”

As well as a transfer embargo, United also asked Fifa to consider excluding Chelsea from certain competitions if their involvement was proven.

“If the involvement of Chelsea is established, then the complainants would seek the imposition of the sanction as set out in Article 23.2(a) of the Fifa Regulations, namely a ban on Chelsea ‘registering any new player, either nationally or internationally’ for the duration of two registration periods,” the United letter read. “In addition, given the welfare issues that this case raises, including the disappearance of the player from Lyn, it is submitted by the complainants that this is a case which warrants the imposition of severe sanctions under Article 23.2(d) including exclusion from competitions.”

Chelsea retain an interest in the player but insist they have had no contact since he trained at the club’s training ground in December 2004, leaving the matter to Fifa. “As far as Chelsea is concerned this whole issue is a matter for Fifa, which is the correct and most competent authority to decide on it,” the statement continued. “Such proceedings involve Mikel, United and Lyn. Chelsea is not a party to those proceedings.”

To complicate matters further, Fifa has suspended its investigation until Mikel’s claim against Lyn, whom he walked out on in November amid allegations that his contract was unlawful, is resolved by the Norwegian courts.

The Oslo District Court refused to hear the case this month, ruling that it was a matter for sporting organisations such as Fifa, although Mikel has until Friday to appeal to a higher court.

John Shittu, the player’s agent, indicated yesterday that he was minded to appeal, but was concerned about interrupting his client’s career even further as it could take up to a year to come to court.

“They never said the contract was lawful, they just said it was down to Fifa to deal with the matter,” Shittu said. “We’ve already told the world the situation. There was a forgery and the boy was coerced into a contract he didn’t want to sign. It’s a pity that Manchester United are pursuing him as he just wants to play football. This would not happen with a European player.”

Having come of age by scoring his first international goal in Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations win over Zimbabwe last Friday, Mikel is desperate to make a similar breakthrough at club level, with Chelsea his preferred destination. “I know where I want to go and I think Chelsea is the better place for me to be,” he said. “I have met José Mourinho and he is a brilliant coach and a brilliant man.”