Fake Agents Promising Contact With EPL Clubs Under Investigation By ICSS

Fake agents "have been luring footballers into paying out thousands of pounds in exchange for trials at Premier League clubs," according to Simon Jones of the London DAILY MAIL. Young players, particularly from Spain, Africa and Australia, "have been duped in recent months by people posing as other agents, scouts and club employees offering trials, contracts and extra training" at clubs such as Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. In exchange for £500 ($834), the players "are promised contact with the clubs" and help with necessary visas while an extra £2,500 ($4,170) "will help cover travel costs, medical fees and insurance." Although such dealings "are not new to the game, they do seem to be on the increase as fraudsters sense a financial gain." The cases "are now being investigated" by the Int'l Centre for Sports Security, based in Doha, Qatar, "who have raised the issue with the Premier League" (DAILY MAIL, 2/24).