Pogatetz awaits verdict on appeal

Boro seal Pogatetz deal

Middlesbrough's new signing Emanuel Pogatetz will find out next week whether he will have to serve a 24-week suspension, after launching an appeal.

The Austria defender, 22, was banned by the Russian Football Association for a tackle in the final game of a loan spell with Spartak Moscow.

The tackle broke the leg of Shinnik Yaroslavl player Yaroslav Kharitonskiy.

Pogatetz was expected to plead his case to Russian officials on Friday but the hearing has now been postponed.

While the rest of Boro's squad are expected to resume pre-season training on Friday, the Russian will be granted extended leave.

Pogatetz has apologised to Kharitonskiy and has already spoken to Russian chiefs about the incident.

However, the FA would have no choice but to enforce the ban under new Fifa regulations should the Russians include details of it with his international registration - which they have indicated they will do.

Pogatetz recently told a radio station: "I can't believe the consequences are so tough."

The Austrian recently moved to the Riverside from Bayer Leverkusen for £1.8m.

He added: "It was not such a bad foul. I am of course sorry that the guy is hurt, but I did not tackle him from behind."