Premier League: child trafficking reports ‘very concerning’

Bogus agents reportedly luring young people to Britain with promises of football club trials

Boys play football on a beach in Gabon
Phony scouts have been targeting the families of budding footballers in Africa
(Image credit: Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images)

The Premier League is to question football clubs about “very concerning” reports of bogus scouts luring children into slavery in the UK with false promises of trials for top teams.

The Times reported on Saturday that budding footballers duped into believing they have been “discovered” are among thousands of young people being trafficked to Britain. “The child may then be sold on or forced into sexual exploitation,” according to the newspaper.

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