French club Sochaux have asked Fifa to intervene to stop Newcastle contacting Modibo Maiga without their permission.

The Ligue 1 side said they twice asked Newcastle to end their interest in the 23-year-old Mali international but were unsuccessful both times.

The striker, who has three years left on his contract with Sochaux, scored 15 league goals in 36 starts last season.

He had refused to train with the club in an attempt to push through a move to the Premier League club.

He also missed Sochaux’s 2-1 win at Nancy last Sunday. Asked about the complaint, manager Alan Pardew said: “I can’t tell you anything about that.

“My brief is to highlight players I think would take the club forward, and the club’s job is to get it over the line. I am not involved in that.”

A statement on the club’s official website said: “FC Sochaux-Montbeliard sent a referral to Fifa with the aim of obtaining [assurances] on the part of  Newcastle United that they will stop their contacts with Modibo Maiga, who is under contract until 2014.

“This [contact] is in violation of Article 18 of the current international regulations.

“This measure comes after Sochaux demanded without success, in an official manner and on two occasions, that the English club put a stop to their actions.”

Maiga was quoted by French newspaper L’Equipe as saying: “I met everybody and they want me. England is a dream.”

Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe disclosed  that Maiga had now rejoined the squad ahead of their Europa League second leg tie at home to Metalist Kharkiv last week.

Maiga boycotted the first leg in Ukraine, which finished goalless.