Children in sport

Children are something you sell...

Major European clubs and anonymous investment funds are fighting across cities, countries and continents over football’s new gold – talented minors.

News about children in sport

Child athletes are too valuable for the Olympic system to set age limits

22.02.2022

The Olympic Games thrive on high-performing children – some of them so young that they are not even allowed to compete in the Youth Olympic Games. Jens Weinreich discusses why it is so hard for Olympic sports federations to set age limits and shows how it leaves child athletes vulnerable to authoritarian states chasing medals and sport glory.
Sexual abuse in football: Presidential predators and pedophile child molesters

27.05.2021

An outside investigation of sexual abuse of female football players in Afghanistan forced FIFA to adopt measures to protect children. But human rights experts argue that the self-professed football family is still failing to protect its weakest members as cases of abuse are exposed in all corners of the world.
Athlete power – end game for abusers?

03.10.2019

When Play the Game kicks off its 11th world communication conference on society and sport the main theme will be athlete activism and the rights of athletes.
In the wake of the USA Gymnastics scandal, new bill proposal sparks debate on sport's autonomy

13.08.2019

A new report from US Congress highlights that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USA Gymnastics failed to protect its athletes from sexual abuse. The investigators propose a new bill that challenges the autonomy of sport.
Children’s rights – the next big issue for sport?

22.07.2019

In a comment piece, three members of the Play the Game staff argue that children’s rights should be of more concern to sport.

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The trade of under-age players

FIFA and CAS have punished FC Barcelona for trading children. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. The trade of minors is standard practice in European football – and has been for years.

The search for football talent is rife and agents are on a constant chase to be the first to spot the next Neymar. Although FIFA regulations only allow international transfers of players over the age of 18, exeptions exist allowing football clubs to buy talent down to the age of 10.

In a series of articles, Play the Game looks into the trade of under-age players.

Thousands of children have been traded already

Camp _Nou _Oh -Barcelona _com _Flickr _500x 320px

On 2 April the ground shook under one of the world’s most powerful football clubs, FC Barcelona, and the world’s most well-known talent factory, La Masia. This was the day the international football federation, FIFA, announced that it had found the Spanish club to be in breach of Article 19 of ‘The regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players’ – in no less than ten cases.

Children are something you sell…

Major European clubs and anonymous investment funds are fighting across cities, countries and continents over football’s new gold – talented minors.

Children are something you sell...

News about children in sport

Child athletes are too valuable for the Olympic system to set age limits

Sexual abuse in football: Presidential predators and pedophile child molesters

Athlete power – end game for abusers?

In the wake of the USA Gymnastics scandal, new bill proposal sparks debate on sport's autonomy

Children’s rights – the next big issue for sport?

The trade of under-age players

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