Liverpool are one of the most successful English clubs ever. The English side have been known to play fast, attacking football throughout history and they continue to do so. Ever since the appointment of their new manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have taken the League by a storm. The team has put in heavy metal performances, outshining the others in the process. Along with the senior team, Liverpool also has a well-established youth academy. The Academy is widely known for producing world class talent. Steven Gerrard, for example, is their academy product.

The Premier League has now announced a ban on the Liverpool academy for signing players at an academy level. The ban was imposed over an allegation of Liverpool tampering with the laws related to academy transfers.

The controversy:

In the summer of 2014, Liverpool had approached a talented Stoke academy player and his family for a possible transfer. The club then invited the family and all expenses were paid for the trip to the Anfield for a Premier League game, in order to sign the youngster. In addition to that, Liverpool had promised to pay the school fees of the teenager, which was already being paid by Stoke.

The school fees became a bone of contention when Liverpool took back their promise. The family claimed they are left with thousands to pay for, now that Liverpool had gone back on their word. They moved court, with allegations that Liverpool had broken an agreement. The Premier League then investigated the matter and found Liverpool guilty of violating certain rules. The rules were put in place to prevent the rampant poaching of talent within the same division.

Violations by Liverpool:

According to rule 299.1,

“No club shall induce or attempt to induce a player to become registered as an academy player at that club by offering him, or any person connected with him, either directly or indirectly, a benefit or payment of any description whether in cash or in kind.”

Liverpool clearly violated this rule as they offered to bring the family to Anfield which is classified as a clear case of inducement. The Premier League investigations concluded a violation of the rule. The entire controversy sprung because of the school fees issue. If Liverpool did go ahead with the deal, they would have violated another Premier League rule which states that “if an Academy is paying school fees for one of their players, they have to follow suit for others as well.” It is at this very point that Liverpool had to go back on their promise.

Penalty imposed: 

Given the nature of the violation, Liverpool has been handed a one-year transfer ban at an academy level. They have also been fined a £100,000 for the same. An additional one year of ban shall be imposed if the Reds are found violating any such laws again in the near future. With regards to Stoke City, for any club to avail the services of the youngster, they will have to pay the club £49000 as compensation.

Despite the penalties, the family believes the Premier League hasn’t done enough to solve their problems and they will be furthering their fight.

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