Liverpool end tapping-up row after club and Premier League agree to pay victim, 13, compensation
Reds tried to sign child from Stoke but move collapsed leaving him and his family in thousands of pounds of debt
LIVERPOOL and the Premier League have agreed to pay the school fees and compensation of a 13-year-old boy after becoming embroiled in a tapping-up scandal.
The Anfield club left the unnamed schoolboy's family in thousands of pounds of debt and stopped the child playing academy football until Stoke were paid £49,000.
Now, more than a year later, Liverpool and the Premier League have reached an out-of-court settlement with his parents, according to The Telegraph.
It means the victim can continue with his private education, which he gained on an initial two-year scholarship when he was eight at the expense of Stoke.
Liverpool would have covered the child's school fees and faced being sued by his family after the move from the Potters fell through.
The Merseyside club were banned from signing academy players from other league clubs and fined £100,000 as a result of the scandal.
In a joint statement, Liverpool and the Premier League said: "The Premier League and Liverpool FC have reached a constructive agreement regarding the future education of a young player who was unable to register with the club.
“Under the terms of the agreement, the player will be able to continue his education at his current school.
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“He will also be free to join another club in the academy system without that club being required to pay compensation, which has been settled with his former club, Stoke City FC.
“We understand this has been a difficult situation for the young person. We are pleased for him that it has been resolved and wish him a successful future.”
The boy's father said: "It’s seriously had an impact on my health. The sleepless nights, the worry that I’ve had to cope with this.
“It’s had an impact on all the family. If I’m stressed, they’re all stressed.”
The child's family accused Liverpool of instructing the boy's father to lie to the Premier League about the tapping-up of his son.
The club were also alleged to have submitted a "falsified" document to the Premier League when trying to register him.
Liverpool denied both allegations but admitted breaching anti-poaching rules brought in last summer.
