Hong Kong youth system crippled after 49 ‘foreign’ youngsters are sidelined by Fifa ruling on minors
The Hong Kong FA is forced to deregister these players, along with a handful in the Premier League, but is working on gaining exemptions
More than 50 young players in the Hong Kong soccer leagues have been caught up in a Fifa-enforced rule regarding the recruitment of minors.
In an unprecedented move, the Hong Kong Football Association has deregistered 49 players aged under 13, and up to 18, who are without a Hong Kong passport and playing in the Jockey Club Youth League, along with a handful from the elite Premier League.
A HKFA spokesman said it was acting on a directive from soccer’s world governing body relating to a rule on international transfer of players and the protection of minors.
The issue came about after three Spanish Primera Liga giants – Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid – were punished by Fifa for breaching rules over the transfer of foreign players under the age of 18.
Among the players banned are four in the Kitchee Premier League roster – midfielders Barak Braunshtain and Mark Swainston and strikers Robert Stamp and Sebastian Buddle – as well as Axel Adler, of BC Glory Sky.