Sterling's former agent Aidy Ward 'broke FA rules by signing under-age players'

Raheem Sterling's former agent Aidy Ward has broken Football Association rules by signing under-age players, according to BBC Panorama.

The investigation into Ward, who owns Colossal Sports Management, also revealed an incident where he had asked Manchester City and England ace Sterling to speak to a 15-year-old boy in a bid to attract the young player to his agency.

FA rules prohibit agents from approaching the families of players under the age of 16 to offer representation and Ward is said to already be under investigation by the governing body in relation to the incident involving Sterling.

Ward said he could not comment out of respect for the FA's inquiry, which has not yet concluded.

Evidence seen by BBC Panorama revealed how Ward video called his client Sterling while at a dinner with a 15-year-old boy and his mother at a London restaurant and asked him to speak with the teenager.

Sterling's lawyers said as an England international he feels a responsibility to speak to aspiring players and has done so for many different people, including on numerous occasions at the request of Ward, but has never spoken to them about agents or financial issues.

They added that Sterling also supports FA rules designed to protect young players.

The 26-year-old international star, who was a standout performer for England at this summer's European Championships, dropped Ward as his agent late last year but still has a small shareholding in his agency.

The BBC's programme also alleged that Ward had offered his services to the families of seven footballers all under the age of 16 and was in correspondence with Fulham about receiving a fee for the transfer of a 14-year-old.

Mr Ward denied ever being the agent of Foday Nabay, 23, who claimed he had orchestrated a move for him from Birmingham to Fulham.

The BBC claim they saw leaked emails between Fulham’s Academy Director, Huw Jennings, Aidy Ward and another agent discussing the terms of Nabay’s transfer, who was 14 at the time.

Negotiations concluded with an offer from Fulham to pay the agents a fee of £120,000 if the deal got finalised despite FA rules stating an agent cannot request or receive payment or compensation for the transfer of an academy player still in full-time education.

Fulham said in response that they neither paid nor agreed to pay Mr Ward or the other agent in relation to the player’s registration with the club.

The FA insisted it thoroughly investigates all allegations of breaches by agents and that around 50 have been sanctioned in the last three years.

Back in 2019, the FA issued bans to ten intermediaries for breaking rules on working with minors. Ward could face the same punishment if he is found to have violated rules.