Manchester United and cross-town rivals Manchester City are reportedly facing questions over a potential age-fraud scandal involving some of the foreign-born players in their respective academies.
Ben Rumsby of The Telegraph reports that photographic evidence has come to light, casting doubts over the eligibility of at least six players to have moved to the UK in the last several years.
The photos suggest that the six players competed in tournaments for significantly older age groups in their home countries than their reported ages would indicate at the time. It’s understood that three of the six players in question have already played for England at youth level.
The Telegraph states that they have withheld the names and identities of the players, as the photographs do not conclusively prove their reported ages are false. Additionally, some or all of them may still be minors.
At the moment, there is nothing that shows United and City were complicit in age fraud.
United responded in a statement, “We are committed to operating all aspects of our academy within the rules and regulations laid down by our governing bodies, including in the recruitment and registration of players.”
“We take our responsibilities for player wellbeing and safeguarding very seriously. Indeed, we take pride in the reputation we have developed for considering the participants in our programmes as first and foremost children, rather than players. Our recruitment process is focused firmly on future potential rather than current performance or physical development.”
City are also confident that they did not breach any rules set by statutory agencies.
The Telegraph spoke with parents of players who have attended United or City’s academies, who insisted that concerns about age-cheating had been raised with staff. These concerns were raised before the photos surfaced, and for some, their emergence feels like a validation of their worries.
Despite the issues being brought up, the players continued lining up for United and City, even remaining eligible to represent England based on their reported ages – something that has raised questions about whether sufficient measures were taken to verify their true ages.
It’s important to note that none of the six players have been subjected to scientific testing that could helped determine how old a child is or whether they are an adult.
Rumsby explains, “Under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, such tests can be carried out on those “subject to immigration control” upon entry into the UK. According to guidance published by the Home Office in November, that includes those who “do not have sufficient evidence to demonstrate their age, and either their claim to be children is doubted or they claim to be adults but are suspected to be children”. Such testing has long been carried out on young footballers in countries with a history of age fraud and the parents who spoke to Telegraph Sport said it should be used on all foreign-born players recruited by Premier League academies.”
“Any age-cheating scandal involving young players at English clubs would also raise the prospect of children having been “trafficked” into the UK. Under Fifa rules, teams are all but banned from signing children who have moved countries unless their parents or legal guardians have relocated for non-footballing reasons. The falsification of a young player’s age would raise questions about the motive behind such a course of action.”
A major incentive for committing age fraud is the financial rewards available to the few young players who secure Premier League contracts. Competing in a younger age group would give an older player an unfair advantage over their supposed peers.
An agent with connections to three of the six players in question denied that the youngsters engaged in age-cheating.
The agent – who maintained that he had no formal agreement with any of the six players – attributed their current troubles to rival agents who had lost out on signing them.
When questioned about the photographs suggesting they had played in an older age group than their reported ages at the time, he claimed they had simply been talented enough to compete at that level from a young age. The agent also argued that scientific testing is not completely accurate.
He added, “There is a kind of mafia happening behind the players. The truth will always succeed. They will not stop those boys. They have the gift from God. No one will destroy their career. No one.”
However, parents of Premier League academy players highlighted cases where age cheating may have significantly disadvantaged their children, while also raising concerns about player safeguarding.
United, City, the FA, Premier League and Home Office all failed to provide a response when asked whether they had taken any action or intended to do so.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
