United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill yesterday travelled to a tribunal in London.

The Argentina defender has asked for a three-man panel to decide whether United gave him permission to leave the club for an agreed fee.

Heinze wants to join Liverpool and claims he has a letter from United allowing him to leave if a club offered a fee of £6.8million.

However, United maintain they made it clear to Heinze both orally and by letter that he would not be permitted to join one of their title rivals in the top flight.

A verdict was expected yesterday but shortly after 6.30pm it became clear that nothing would be forthcoming until today.