United get clearance for Karam OXFORD United have at last received international clearance for French player Amine Karam.

It came through yesterday, just before the end of a 30-day deadline set by the FA for receiving clearances from foreign football associations.

Karam, previously with FC Sochaux, is a 21-year-old striker who can also play out wide on the flank.

Said U's secretary Mick Brown: "We have now received clearance for Amine.

"The Football Association set a 30-day limit to receive clearance from other associations and they were preparing to give us a temporary licence because they had not heard anything from the French national association.

"But on the 30th day it came through.

"I think the problem may have been that we applied for him as a non-amateur player, because he was at a professional club.

"But after Sochaux, he might have played for someone else which confused the issue."