FC København's Youth Recruitment Practices Questioned
Scouting Practices Under Scrutiny
Per Ågren, a youth sports director at Malmö FF, has voiced concerns about the tactics used by FC København in recruiting young football players. He claims that the club closely monitors nearly every youth match, targeting players as young as nine years old.
Recruitment of Young Players
Ågren revealed that FC København has approached children as young as eight, encouraging them to leave their local clubs to join their academy. He believes that at such a young age, children should focus on enjoying the game with friends rather than being scouted for professional teams.
Denial from FC København
In response to these allegations, Sports Director Sune Smith-Nielsen firmly denied any wrongdoing. He stated that FC København does not recruit players under ten years old and dismissed claims of poaching children from local clubs or abroad. Smith-Nielsen emphasized that discussions about child recruitment in football have been ongoing for decades and rejected any allegations of bribery in youth football.
