Lyn, Man. United turn to FIFA in row with Chelsea

Norway's Lyn Oslo and Manchester United have lodged a complaint with world soccer's governing body FIFA over Chelsea's pursuit of Nigerian teenager John Obi Mikel who has already signed for the Old Trafford club.

"We are worried about Mikel and about his situation," Lyn chairman Sveinung Lunde told a news conference yesterday.

Lyn's attorney Erik Nadheim told Reuters the FIFA complaint was over Chelsea's actions and those of Nigerian John Shittu and his fellow agent Rune Hauge, who has said first division Lyn do not have the right to sell Mikel.

United say Mikel has signed for them. The English Premier League club announced the youngster's four million pounds ($7.34 million) transfer on April 29.

But the 18-year-old midfielder, who Lyn believe is in England, has been quoted in Norwegian media as saying he wants to join Premier League champions Chelsea.

Lyn said they have a valid contract with Mikel, which runs until the end of 2006, and that he is in breach of that contract after missing training on May 12 and a match four days later.