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European ruling body to probe child player trafficking
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-14 09:10
BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (Reuters) - European soccer's governing body UEFA is
launching an investigation into the alleged trafficking of child players by
football agents.
Chief executive Lars-Christer Olsen said on Tuesday that UEFA had evidence of
soccer 'camps' in eastern and southern Europe being used to bring children into
the region illegally.
"Children as young as under 10 are being brought in with the view of
eventually selling them on as players to big clubs," Olsen told a news
conference.
"We intend to investigate these reports and pass the information on to the
relevant authorities.
"Any club found to be involved in this will be dealt with severely."
Olsen said the information he had pointed to deals being done "at lower
league clubs".
"I can't go in to specific cases or detail, but we believe it is being done
lower down the chain," Olsen said.
"However, some of these players may have, or may in the future, find
themselves at one of the bigger clubs."
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