Gambian player faces fraud charges for lying about age

Gambian player faces fraud charges for lying about age

A 19-year-old former AC Milan youth player is facing fraud charges after it emerged that he falsified his age.

According to Mirror.co.uk, Yusupha Yaffa had told Italian immigration officials that he was 19, and blamed the error on having lost his passport on multiple occasions.

The player is now facing fraud charges after his Facebook profile revealed he is allegedly 28.

Yusupha Yaffa featured for Milan until earlier this season, a time during which the club bosses believed he was still a teenager.

The Italian media have however revealed that the striker lied about his age with football authorities launching investigations into the matter.

The Gambian international is said to have posted his real age on his Facebook page.

Reports in Italy say that Yaffa had told immigration officials he was born on December 31 1996, though records show he was born on November 14 1987.

He has blamed the oversight on losing his passport on numerous occasions.

Yatta who now plays for MSV Duisburg in Germany has been ordered to return to Italy where he is set to face charges of fraud.

Milan legend and Yaffa’s former coach Filippo Inzaghi will also be called to testify, as will a number of the Serie A clubs’ youth coaches.

This is not the first time cases of age fraud are rocking the football world. Earlier in 2014, Cameroonian Joseph Minala of Napoli was accused of purporting to be 17 years old when he was actually 41.

However, the Lazio defended stated that his birth certificate was ‘absolutely legitimate’

Age fraud is reported to be rampant in African football.

Tags:

AC Milan Yusupha Yaffa

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories