Liverpool silent on claims club could face youth transfer ban over ‘tapping up’

Liverpool are not commenting on claims they could face a transfer ban on academy players if they are found guilty of ‘tapping up’ a Stoke youngster.

The case, which involves allegations of a forbidden inducement offered to a 12-year-old, has been ongoing for some time, but details only emerged last week.

Reports today suggested matters are coming to a head and that the most severe sanction could be a transfer ban on youth players, but Liverpool have maintained their stance of not commenting until the process is complete.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Liverpool have also been accused of reneging on an agreement to pay the unnamed youngster’s school fees – which Stoke were doing – until he turned 16, after they realised that breached newly-introduced rules on inducements and refused to honour the commitment.

If found guilty, possible punishments range from a fine to a transfer ban, although the Premier League also refused to comment on the case.