Manchester City reported to FIFA for 'trafficking' of 15-year-old

Manchester City could be in some hot water after the Premier League table-topper's contentious pursuit of an Argentine youngster has been reported to FIFA.

Argentinian first-division side Velez Sarsfield has confirmed the filing of a formal complaint over the luring of Benjamin Garee, who was officially announced as a City player when he turned 16 in July.

Velez contends that Garee, who also received interest from Manchester United and Barcelona, was approached by City when he was 15, which is a violation of FIFA's rules on the transfer of minors.

"Never have I experienced such an immoral act," Velez president Raul Gamez said Wednesday, courtesy of the Telegraph.

FIFA maintains restrictions on the signing of players under the age of 18 from outside of the European Union, prompting City's insistence that Garee holds an Italian passport, thus absolving the club of a violation of the rule. Both Real Madrid and rival Atletico have been reprimanded in recent years for the same violation.

Velez claims that Garee, who had a trial at United two years ago, was approached in June when he was 15. Gamez contends that City's director of football Txiki Begiristain offered to pay the club €50,000 when Garre eventually made his professional debut, followed by payments up to €1,050,000 based on appearances.

"They offered ­money to take a 15-year-old child who is in the middle of his stage of development. We don’t know what they ­offered the father and the child in order to convince them," Gamez added.

"In Velez, we defend values and we act in good faith. We are not interested in collecting €50,000 or €1,000,000 if said action is prohibited and may affect the player."

Section 19 of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer states that a player under 18 can only switch clubs if one of three criteria is met:

• The moving of a player's parents due to work reasons.
• The transfer is to a club within 50 kilometres of the border of the country.
• The transfer takes place within the territory of the European Union for a player aged over 16.

"None of these exceptions apply to Benjamín Garré, who travelled to England without his parents," Gamez adds.

Real Madrid and Atletico are currently appealing their charges with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.