African Talent Pathways & Exploitation Risks: Are FIFA’s Safeguards Sufficient?

Young African players - especially minors - remain exposed to precarious migration pathways where exploitation and trafficking risks persist. In this article, Hazem Elsaidy (lawyer at Munoz & Arias Sports Lawyers) and Hassan Youssef (Master’s student at O REI Sports Law Institute) examine whether FIFA’s safeguards - centred on Article 19 RSTP and strict CAS jurisprudence - are sufficient in practice, despite persistent loopholes, informal recruitment networks and enforcement gaps across African football governance.

Introduction

Young African footballers, especially minors, often embark on precarious journeys in pursuit of professional careers abroad. These talent migration pathways expose them to significant risks of exploitation and human trafficking. In response, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has implemented rules, most notably Article 19 of its

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