Maltese prospect Myles Beerman’s move to English Premier League club Manchester City is at the centre of a FIFA investigation, according to reports in the international media.
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that FIFA’s disciplinary committee is probing Beerman’s transfer amid suggestions that the starlet was under the legal transfer age when he joined Manchester City in 2014.
At the time, Beerman, who turned 17 in March, was on the books of Floriana FC.
Reports claim that FIFA are aware of Beerman’s switch to Manchester City and have requested that Floriana and the Malta FA send them the initial transfer documents between 2012 and 2014, during which time Beerman joined the former English champions.
FIFA regulations state that the international transfer of players is only permitted if the player is over the age of 18, subject to the following three exceptions: where the parents of the player move to the country in which the new club is located for reasons not linked to football; the transfer takes place within the EU/EEA and the player is aged between 16 and 18; and the player lives no further than 50km from a national border and the club with which the player wishes to be registered in the neighbouring association is also within 50km of that border.
If FIFA find that Beerman’s transfer was in breach of Article 19 of the world football body’s rules, Manchester City could potentially face a transfer ban, judging by the sanction meted out to Barcelona in 2014.
The Catalans were banned from making any signings for two transfer windows.
A report on the Manchester Evening News website yesterday evening said that Manchester City were confident of avoiding a Barcelona-style ban over Beerman’s transfer.
“City sources are adamant the deal was completely above board and that Beerman was not registered before reaching the eligible age limit,” the Manchester Evening News said.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, who will contest the Champions League final on May 28, were also handed a transfer embargo for signing under-age players but the FIFA-imposed bans have been temporarily lifted pending the clubs’ appeals.
Bright prospect
Beerman is widely regarded as one of the most gifted Maltese youngsters and represented the country at the 2014 UEFA Under-17 Championship, which were held in Malta, despite being only 15.
The 17-year-old, who recovered from a foot injury to play a part in Manchester City’s title success at Under-18 level this season, was awarded a two-year scholarship by the English club last year.
Beerman, who has English parentage, is reportedly coveted by a host of clubs in the UK and overseas.