The Immigration and Border Service rescued more than a hundred young people from the Bsports Academy football academy, in Riba de Ave, Vila Nova de Famalicão, in the case involving the president of the General Assembly (AG) of the Portugal League , Mário Costa, who is suspected of human trafficking. Half a hundred SEF elements were on the ground on Monday searching this soccer academy, but also the house of Mário Costa.
Among these young people who wanted to train in soccer, there are at least 36 foreign minors who were allegedly held at the Bsports soccer academy. Initially they were kept in the custody of the Immigration and Border Service, but meanwhile the court decided to place the minors under the responsibility of the Commission for the Protection of Children and Adolescents (CPCJ) to be handed over to their families. in the next few days. They were part of a group of 114 young players of various nationalities.
TO TSF It is known that the academy led by the president of AG da Liga Portugal held recruitment tournaments in several countries, such as Colombia or Mexico, and brought children and young people to Portugal after their parents signed contracts with a validity of 11 months. this Tuesday, the RTP he adds that the parents of the youngsters will have been promised, by BSports, academic and sports training and the promise that their children will play at the professional levels of Portuguese football.
In Portugal, youngsters, both minors and adults, stayed in the gym, prevented from leaving, if their parents wanted to interrupt the training and had not paid the full amount provided for in the contract, as happened to some parents who no longer They have financial possibilities. The passports were retained by the academy services and in the Bsports space, on Riba de Ave. If the young people were not closed, they would at least have very restricted movements and, to leave, they would only be accompanied by academy employees.
In the case of a young Colombian, referred by RTP, his parents agreed in writing to pay 6,600 euros in 11 months -600 per month- to attend the gym. If they wanted to withdraw, they would have to pay the entire agreed amount and send a written exit authorization to the academy, accompanied by a plane ticket to the young man’s country of origin.
RTP also reports that at night they were padlocked in the rooms, without access to the bathroom.
contacted by TSFthe Ministry of the Interior and the SEF refused to comment on the case because it was confidential.
Mário Costa has already assured that he is innocent of suspicions of human trafficking and is awaiting the evolution of this investigation. The Liga Portugal was surprised by suspicions involving the president of the Liga Portugal AG.
Source: TSF
