Catalan clubs at risk of major sanctions as FIFA uncovers more than 50 alleged cases of child trafficking

Catalan football has proven to be one of the main talent factories consistently during Spain's best years, but youth development has caught FIFA's eye for the wrong reasons. They are looking for answers on more than 50 cases of potential child trafficking.

The football body has demanded explanations on how more than 50 minors who came to Spain from abroad on school scholarships have stayed in Catalonia for more than the allowed year, all with licenses from the Catalan Football Federation . Marco they say they have already asked for explanations, but have not received sufficient answers, focusing their investigation on Agora Barcelona International School in Sant Cugat del Valles, a short train ride outside the city.

The players arrive here under the pretext of education, but the idea is that they remain as footballers. Some of the clubs named are Fundacion Marcet, Fundacion Academia Hospitalet, Veterans Catalau and PE Maniagua, and their punishments could be fines or a two-year ban on signing players.

It is a potential scandal that could also impact Spanish. Los Pericos say they did not know about the origins of Lucas Alves, after he joined from Fundacion Marcet last summer, and he was warned by FIFA. They could be found accomplices in his stay at the club, which would have impacted him to a delicate financial time.