City face transfer ban over trials for African boys
AN investigation that could see a transfer ban imposed on Manchester City has expanded.
FIFA was last night examining new evidence linked to its inquiry into whether Pep Guardiola’s runaway Premier League leaders had broken rules designed to prevent the exploitation of minors.
The world governing body confirmed in September an investigation was “ongoing” into what can now be revealed were matches played by African youngsters brought over to England.
That inquiry has since widened following interviews given to the Danish newspaper ‘Jyllands-Posten’ by two former City trainees about their experiences in Manchester.
George Davies and Dominic Oduro told the publication they played for the club before turning 18 in what could be deemed a breach of FIFA rules that place restrictions on teams taking child footballers from their home countries.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid were all recently handed transfer bans for contravening those regulations, with FIFA since turning its sights to England, where Chelsea are also the subject of an “ongoing” investigation.
Should Chelsea or City be found guilty, and hit with a transfer ban, each would almost certainly follow their Spanish counterparts’ lead by lodging appeals that would see any punishment suspended and allow them to embark on a pre-emptive shopping spree.
City did not respond to requests for comment on what is the third investigation into their conduct over youth signings in 18 months.
Last season it was revealed that City had been reported to FIFA after being accused of the attempted “trafficking” of a schoolboy who they beat Manchester United and Barcelona to sign, Benjamin Garre.
City are finally expected to learn before the end of the month whether they have been cleared over the incident by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after Garre’s previous club, Velez Sarsfield, refused to accept an initial ruling exonerating Guardiola’s (pictured) club.
Last season saw City found guilty by the Premier League of tapping-up two schoolboys and they were banned from signing academy players from their English rivals for at least one year, as well as being fined £300,000.
They were forced to release one of the boys in question but they had been allowed to re-sign him following a league climbdown.
FIFA’s investigation into Chelsea’s pursuit of young foreign players is its second in recent years and is believed to include trials given to Bertrand Traore and Domingos Quina. (© Daily Telegraph, London)