United fury at Fergie

The 62-year-old Scot has twice been warned about using his son for club business and Gardner is sure to want assurances that Jason is not involved on this occasion.

A United insider said: 'If this story is true, then it is even more serious than it was before. It means they are going to extraordinary lengths to disguise the fact that either Jason or his business associates are involved.' FA officials were keen to stress yesterday that an investigation into the Howard deal has not yet been launched, but the documents will be examined by the compliance unit and there is a suggestion that there could be a breach of FIFA regulations. David Davies, the FA's executive director, said: 'Various documents are now in our possession. They will be studied very carefully and any breach of the rules and regulations that they show will then be discussed as a matter of urgency.'

One source hinted last night that the agents involved may have been paid by both the buying and selling club, while the methods that were used to gain Howard a work permit are also now raising questions.

Apparently, Howard's lack of international appearances for the United States meant that he had to call on the nationality of a relative, thought to be Hungarian.

United issued a statement saying: 'All our transfer deals are approved by the board of the Manchester United plc and are conducted in accordance with the FIFA and FA rules. Details of all payments involved in those deals are sent to the football authorities as required under the regulations.' The club will now launch its own investigation into the allegations. United chief executive David Gill yesterday met with members of Shareholders United and he was asked a number of questions on the subject. He was asked why, when the club employs some experienced negotiators, a Swiss agent even needed to be brought in on the Howard deal, while a £358,000 payment to Morris for the £3m transfer of David Bellion from Sunderland to United has also raised concerns.

The issue cast a shadow over yesterday's game, which saw United return to the top of the Premiership by a point from Arsenal.

Howard was involved in a penalty controversy when he appeared to bring down Newcastle captain Alan Shearer in the area.

But he escaped punishment when referee Paul Durkin waved play on - a decision the official later admitted was wrong after viewing TV replays of the incident.

Durkin accepted that he had not been up with play and could not definitely see contact.