Manchester, England (My Sportsbook) - FIFA has confirmed it is investigating a complaint leveled at Manchester City following its signing of teen defender Jeremy Helan.

French club Rennes had called on the game's governing body to launch an investigation over City's swoop to sign the now 17-year-old earlier this year.

Rennes claim they had a pre-contract agreement in place to sign the player on a professional deal should he represent France at youth level and that Helan broke his contract when he moved to Eastlands.

They are now hoping that FIFA takes action against City following the world governing body's decision to ban Premier League rivals Chelsea from signing any new players over their own capture of fellow French youngster Gael Kakuta from Lens.

"We can confirm that there is a case pending with FIFA's Player Status Department involving Jeremy Helan, Stade Rennais FC and Manchester City," confirmed a FIFA statement.

Rennes technical director Pierre Dreossi has already warned City that he believes their case is stronger than the one which has seen Chelsea banned from registering any new players until January 2011.

"For us it was strange to have no discussion from City and now, in the week after the FIFA declaration on Chelsea, I would hope that it will be the same thing for Manchester City," he told The Independent.

"Kakuta signed up for just a possibility of a full contract. For Helan there was definitely one there, under the terms of the pre-contract agreement, because he had played for his country."

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)