FIFA
is investigating Chelsea for the third time in eight years over a potential
breach of young player regulations.
FIFA responded this afternoon to questions about media reports regarding
Chelsea signing foreign players under the age of 18.
"We can confirm that an investigation is ongoing," FIFA said in an email.
"We cannot provide any details concerning the matters under investigation."
FIFA rules prohibit the international transfer of players under the age of
18 unless their parents have emigrated for reasons not connected to football
or both the player and club are based within 50 kilometres of a national
border.
The only other exception is for transfers within either the European Union
or European Economic Area (EEA), where the minimum age is 16.
In those cases, clubs must still ensure that the player continues his
education and studies for an alternative career, as well as making sure he
has a high living standard.
A Chelsea spokesman told British media that the club complies with all FIFA
statutes and regulations when recruiting players.
Chelsea have been investigated twice previously over their signing of
minors.
The West London club were banned from signing players for two transfer
windows in 2009, a penalty they had overturned on appeal in 2010, over Gael
Kakuta's 2007 move from Lens to Stamford Bridge.
They were also investigated over the transfer of Bertrand Traore, the
Burkina Faso international who was signed after his 18th birthday but had
appeared in an under-18 match in 2011 while still 16
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