A 17-year-old African footballer is taking FIFA to court, arguing football's world governing body is denying him the chance to further his career.
The legal move comes a
month after FIFA hit Spain's football federation with a $216,000 fine
for allowing two of its most famous clubs -- Real Madrid and Atletico
Madrid -- to sign underage players.
FIFA's laws regarding minors
are intended to protect youngsters -- it toughened up regulations last
year for instance by changing the age required for an International
Transfer Certificate from 12 to 10 -- most of whom won't ever play
professionally due to the immense competition.
But
"he and his family miss the probably unique chance of a professional
and social advancement," a press release from the Swiss-based lawyers
representing the player and his parents stated.
The firm representing the lawyers working with the
parents and the 17-year-old, who has played for "the national youth
football teams of his country on several occasions," declined to name
him, his nationality and if he was playing for a European club.
"FIFA
implemented these regulations on the pretext that young football
players such as the claimant must be protected," added the statement.
"In reality, however, these regulations lead to a discrimination of
football players from third countries outside the European Union."
The
claim is "primarily based on Swiss cartel law and the competition law
of the European union" and was filed Wednesday with a court in Zurich.