20 Feb 2008Chelsea accused of illegal approach

Chelsea have been reported to Uefa and the Italian Football Federation (IFF) over claims about an illegal approach of a player.

Italian side Reggina have made the complaint, which centres on 15-year-old Vincenzo Camilleri.

The club claims that Camilleri refused to take part in a Reggina match because he wanted to travel to London for talks with the Stamford Bridge side.

"He preferred to travel to London with his mother and a type of agent to reach a financial agreement with Chelsea," Reggina president Lillo Foti told the BBC.

"We see this is an action of disloyalty and incorrectness," he added.

Michel Platini, president of Uefa, has commented on the situation and put it into a wider context.

"Young players should remain in the club they come from with their families, postponing their move to another club or another country until they are 20 or 22," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

"Whoever makes that leap at the age of 14 can risk returning destroyed at 16, just because they didn't succeed," added Platini.

Chelsea have previously been embroiled in 'tapping up' scandals, most notably during the transfer of Ashley Cole, which led to the club being fined.

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