Trafficking in African youths has become a growing concern for soccer’s governing body, Fifa, as middlemen can bypass work permit restrictions and bring teenage Africans into European countries, where they are then sold to clubs for large sums of money, or simply discarded on the streets of major European cities.
In an accompanying video, an undercover reporter from the BBC — posing as the parent of a talented teenaged soccer player — can be seen negotiating with one of the swindlers in a Lagos hotel. After promising the undercover reporter that his son will be given a trial with Manchester United, the man is confronted with a television crew before being carted off by Nigerian police.
Nigeria is not the only country affected. Just over a year ago, 34 young boys from Ivory Coast were promised trials in Europe, borrowed the money to pay their bogus agents, and were then robbed and held against their will in neighboring Mali.
Sepp Blatter, the President of Fifa, has accused Europe’s wealthy soccer clubs, who often turn a blind eye to this despicable practice, as commiting “social and economic rape” of Africa.
Presentation to the Joint Chiefs Operations Directorate
November 11, 2022
One Response
not sure what exactly big clubs can do to stop this. aren’t these simply criminals acting on their own, pretending to be affiliated with the clubs? blatter is well known for resisting the globalization of the game and specifically the import of talent to the most prominent footballing countries. kind of just seems like more of that from him. that being said, obviously a despicable practice that should be exposed and combatted.