FRUSTRATION is growing at Middlesbrough with the club still waiting to learn whether new signing Emanuel Pogatetz will be suspended for the start of the campaign - after a decision on his appeal was put on hold until next week.

After pleading his case to have a six-month ban overturned, an appeal panel at the Football Union of Russia (FUR) met on Wednesday to discuss the proposed suspension.

A decision had been expected to reach Boro by yesterday but they still have not heard whether their £1.8m buy from Bayer Leverkusen will be available to play against Liverpool on August 13.

There is a fear the FUR panel have failed to reach an agreement and that they are delaying a verdict until after another hearing in the middle of next week.

Pogatetz was issued with the 24-week ban for being sent off in his final game for Spartak Moscow, where he was on loan, when he broke a player's leg after just ten minutes of the game.

The Austrian international clattered into Shikkin Yaroslavl's Yaroslav Khartinsky, who suffered a double leg fracture in the incident.

Boro's latest signing even flew back to Russia to apologise to Khartinsky in person and he is anxiously waiting to learn when he will be able to kick-off his playing days at his new club.

Due to the delay Pogatetz's international registration documents have still not swapped from Germany to the English Football Association at Soho Square.

And the 22-year-old hopes showing remorse for injuring Khartinsky will help to persuade the FUR that he does not deserve such a long ban.

It is likely the suspension will not be completely overturned but reduced, and an eight-week penalty is being talked about.

Meanwhile, Boro striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has no intention of joining Fulham, according to his agent.

The Dutchman was linked with a return to London yesterday as the Crave Cottage club seek a replacement for Andy Cole.

But Hasselbaink, who has one year left on his existing deal, is ready to battle with Mark Viduka and new signing Aiyegbeni Yakubu for a place in Steve McClaren's starting line-up in the coming season.

And agent Artur Nijman said: "Jimmy has one more year to go on his contract at Middlesbrough and he is happy there.

"There has been no interest from Fulham and I think it is paper talk. Jimmy is ready and waiting for the season to start."

* Tickets for Boro's home friendlies with Atletico Madrid and Espanyol go on sale on Monday.

McClaren's men face Atletico Madrid on August 3 (7.30pm) and Espanyol on August 7 (3pm). Tickets for the games - which are likely to see Yakubu make his Riverside bow - are priced £10 adults and £5 under-16s and over-65s.

* Julio Baptista's 'will he, won't he' transfer saga with Arsenal continued yesterday with the Brazilian forward giving fresh hope to the Gunners by rounding angrily on Sevilla fans who booed him in a friendly.

The 23-year-old has yet to make up his mind on his future - Arsene Wenger believes it is 50-50 whether he chooses Arsenal - but it looks certain he will not be staying at Sevilla.

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein is monitoring the Baptista situation but will move for another target should the Brazilian opt to stay in Spain - Barcelona are also courting him.

Baptista was clearly riled after he was booed and whistled at by a section of the 2,000 crowd as Sevilla beat local side Pilas 5-1 in a game in which he scored two of his side's goals.

He said afterwards: ''Those who are whistling me now don't even know why they are doing so. I don't have to prove anything to anyone, I've already done that in the league for the past two seasons.

''There are various clubs interested in me, but the last word is mine and that is what matters. I will make the decision.''

Meanwhile, Wenger has stated his intention to keep Robert Pires at Highbury despite the French midfielder wanting an improved contract

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