Liverpool To Face Transfer Ban At Academy Level After Breaching FA Rules

Liverpool are facing a dangerous prospect of being hit with a transfer ban at academy level after there were claims that they allegedly tapped up a Stoke City schoolboy against the rules of the FA.

The Premier League are investigating claims about Liverpool having offered a banned inducement to the 12-year old, with a serious allegation that the Reds reneged on an agreement to pay the boy’s school fees.

The incident dates back to summer of 2016 when Stoke were already paying the boy’s school fees. The Reds indicated that they were interested in doing the same, if the boy joined them, and promised the young lad that they would do so until he turned 16.

However, there was a rule that was introduced last summer which forbids the practice of clubs paying the fees of a particular child. It was said that the clubs have to offer to pay for all the school children in their academy to be educated privately. Liverpool’s offer for the 12-year old boy seems to have violated this rule.

It has been claimed that Liverpool pulled out of the deal and left the boy struggling when they discovered that they had breached the FA rule.

There is a high possibility that Liverpool would be fined for this. However, the Premier League could also impose a suspension on the Reds signing youth players for their academy.

It looks like Liverpool are not willing to offering comments on this until the details of the investigation are published.

It would be such a major blow for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool as the German manager is someone who heavily relies on young talents coming through at the academy. The German is currently in his first full season in charge of the Reds and the next two summers would be crucial for him as he would surely be looking to strengthen the core team and also the academy.

It is important for a club’s youth academy to be strong and ethical in order for the club to progress on a long term basis. If Liverpool receive a ban from the Premier League, then Jurgen Klopp will be left scratching his head for sure.