Follow usTensions between Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool have escalated recently, leading to actions that break Premier League rules regarding youth team scouting, reports The Athletic. Chelsea reportedly barred scouts from Manchester United and Liverpool from attending their youth matches, a move soon reciprocated by Liverpool.
🚨✅ Scouts from Liverpool and Manchester United have had their requests for accreditation to attend academy matches at Chelsea’s training ground refused.
This was interpreted as a response to the departure of Rio Ngumoha, who United also tried to recruit, to Liverpool.
The… pic.twitter.com/bPUskrdcBv
— UtdTruthful (@Utdtruthful) October 16, 2024
The dispute stems from a growing reluctance among top clubs to give their rivals access to their academies and young talents. Premier League regulations state that scouts from rival clubs can attend youth matches as long as they provide notice by midday on the working day before the match and show proper identification. However, these recent refusals by Chelsea and Liverpool violate these rules.
The report suggests that Chelsea initiated the tension, but all top clubs are increasingly protective of their youth players. These young talents are valuable, not only because of the large financial investments made in their development but also due to domestic and European tournament registration rules, which require clubs to include homegrown players.
INEOS cut Ferguson’s multi-million ambassador contract with Man Utd 
FA to investigate Chelsea and Forest after mass confrontation 
Manchester City claims partial victory in sponsorship rules dispute 
