Further to media reports today regarding a scam operated by individuals claiming to be agents acting for English clubs, The FA has issued the following statement:

The FA has been very proactive on this issue as soon as we were made aware of it by concerned parties, such as parents of young players and licensed football agents. The FA investigated the complaints and passed on our findings to the relevant law enforcement agencies, whom we continue to liaise with and assist in relation to these matters.

We also took steps to raise public awareness of the scam by posting an alert on TheFA.com in April this year (see below), which was also circulated to the media, and passed the information on to FIFA in order for them to alert their member national associations around the world.

 

SCAM WARNING

Young players, clubs and parents are advised about a scam that The FA has recently been made aware of.

Persons purporting to be licensed agents are sending out spam emails promising trials with various clubs, using details from the list of licensed agents on the FIFA website, www.fifa.com. The clubs themselves have no knowledge of the potential "trials".

The scam appears to work around promising trials to young players with various clubs and then ask for payment in advance to cover "insurance and travel". Once the money is sent, no more is heard.

Anyone who is the victim of this scam should contact their local police.

21 April 2008

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