Spain’s Sports Council Challenges FIFA on Youth Players

Why this is here: FIFA previously required all minors seeking licenses to apply for asylum, a stipulation that only applied to individuals fleeing war or conflict in their home countries.

Spain’s Sports Council (CSD) has instructed FIFA to allow foreign minors to play organized soccer, following a resolution in favor of a migrant minor in the Canary Islands denied a license. The CSD asserts that unaccompanied minors in Spain have legal standing and that FIFA must respect Spanish law. Organizations like Extranjeristas en Red had been raising concerns since 2022, arguing that the Spanish Sports Law and recent FIFA measures discriminated against foreign minors without residency permits.

The issue stems from FIFA’s attempt to curb the trafficking of young players from Africa and Latin America, creating restrictions that inadvertently excluded legally-resident minors. While the Spanish Football Federation typically follows FIFA guidelines, sources indicate they will comply with the CSD’s resolution. The CSD emphasizes its commitment to protecting the best interests of the child and supporting social integration through sports.

However, the Defensor del Pueblo previously declined to challenge the law’s constitutionality, and FIFA is still working to revise its rules, acknowledging the need for a more generous approach to integration. The work to balance player protection with inclusive access continues.