Underage African footballers, some as young as 14, are reportedly being trafficked to Asia and forced to sign contracts. Leading Laos team Champasak United imported 23 players from West Africa to train at an unregistered football academy in February, the BBC has claimed. Such a move goes against Fifa rules banning teams from moving players from foreign clubs and academies until they are 18-years-old.
Culture Foot Solidaire, an NGO which advocates for young players, has estimated that 15,000 teenage footballers are taken out of West Africa each year. Many of these are moved illegally, according to the organization.
