Chelsea have taken the extraordinary step of blocking Liverpool scouts from attending academy games at their Cobham training base, amidst a volatile situation at academy level.
According to The Athletic, the Blues have rejected accreditation requests from Liverpool and Manchester United scouts, citing concerns over poaching. The Reds claim Chelsea initiated these restrictions, which Chelsea deny.
Liverpool retaliated by warning that any future applications from Chelsea scouts would likely be denied. This development follows Liverpool’s recruitment of Chelsea’s 16-year-old prodigy Rio Ngumoha, considered one of the London club’s most promising academy talents.
The Premier League’s youth development regulations mandate that clubs allow scouts to attend academy matches with prior notification (at least 24 hours) and valid identification.
Chelsea’s stance may be linked to recent academy leadership changes. Neil Bath and Jim Fraser departed, with Glenn van der Kraan (formerly Manchester City) becoming academy technical director, Jack Francis taking charge as director of academy football operations, and Delroy Ebanks (previously Newcastle United) joining as head of academy recruitment.
Representatives from Chelsea, Liverpool, and United held inconclusive talks last week. The ongoing saga reflects the fiercely competitive environment surrounding youth development in English football.
As tensions escalate, the repercussions on relationships and recruitment efforts remain uncertain.
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