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Catalan football has proven time and time again to be one of Spain's most important talent factories during Spain's best years, but youth development has caught FIFA's attention for all the wrong reasons. They are looking for answers to over 50 cases of potential child trafficking.
The football association has asked for explanations as to why more than 50 minors who came to Spain from abroad on school scholarships stayed in Catalonia longer than the permitted year, all with licenses from the Catalan football Federation. say they have already asked for explanations but received insufficient answers, and are focusing their investigation on the Agora Barcelona International School in Sant Cugat del Valles, a short train ride outside the city.
The players come there under the guise of training, but the idea is that they stay as footballers. Some of the clubs mentioned are Fundacion Marcet, Fundacion Academia Hospitalet, Veterans Catalau and PE Maniagua, and their penalties could be fines or a two-year ban for signing players.
It's a potential scandal that could even have repercussions . Los Pericos say they were unaware of Lucas Alves' origins after he arrived from Fundacion Marcet last summer and were warned by FIFA. They could be accused of complicity in his staying at the club, which would have a negative impact on them .
