FIFA to probe Chelsea for signing under age players

CHELSEA are facing a third Fifa probe in eight years over the signing of players under the age of 18.

The club have been looked into twice before by the world football governing body. And according to reports, the club are braced for yet another investigation into their practices of recruiting youth team players.

It is not yet known if Fifa are looking into a specific transfer.

Chelsea have one of the most successful youth programmes in Europe and have won the Uefa Youth League – the under-19 competition including that year’s senior Champions League clubs – twice.

The Blues have also won the last FOUR editions of the FA Youth Cup, clinching the title six times in the last eight years in a stunning dominance of youth football in England.

But some have questioned the transfer fees and signing-on fees paid by the West London club – although they are not the only club to do so.

And despite having one of the best academies in the world at Cobham, Chelsea have a questionable record of blooding first-team players. According to the Mail, the club are facing another difficult investigation that derailed their transfer windows in 2009, following the wrangle over French youngster Gael Kakuta.

Fifa also looked into the transfer of Bertrand Traore to Chelsea last year, but the Burkina Faso international was sold to Lyon.

A Fifa spokesman told the Mail: "As the investigation is ongoing, no further comment is possible for the time being." Atletico Madrid are currently in the middle of a transfer ban until January over the signing of young players.

They even appealed Fifa's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it was upheld by the court.

Real Madrid have also been punished in the recent past and had their ban cut from two transfer windows to one.

Liverpool and Manchester City have both been rapped by the Premier League over the tapping up of youth players.

A Blues spokesman said: "Chelsea FC complies with all Fifa statutes and regulations when recruiting players."

The West London club could play Welsh youngster Ethan Ampadu in this week's Carabao Cup clash against Nottingham Forest, but they have reportedly not yet agreed a compensation fee with Exeter for the 17-year-old.

From The Sun