Two brothers: One can play for Espanyol, the other is banned for Barcelona
If it's hard to explain to a child why they can't play because some men in Switzerland don't allow it, how do you explain to two brothers that the older one cannot play at Barcelona, but the younger one can do so at Espanyol?
This is what is happening to the Kelleys, a family from north America who have been settled in the Catalan capital for a few years. They have two children who like football. The younger one, Kristian Kelley, plays totally normally, at Benjamin A level at Espanyol. The older one, Kevin, is in the Alevin C level at Barcelona but cannot play. The two are brothers, minors in age and with all their papers in order. But one can play and the other can't.
But nobody thinks that Espanyol have cheated and for this Kristian can play normally. Nothing of that - Espanyol have done things well. And Barcelona too.
The difference is in the FIFA rule, more than unjust, quite incoherent, which is different for minors of 10 years and those above that age.
Those above 10 have to present the CTI (Certificate of International Transfer) and under that, no. The CTI is a document that has to include, among other things, birth cirticifcate, academic desination, approval of the Federation of the country of origin, or certificate of work and residence of the parents.
This is why Kristian, who was born in 2006 and has not turned 10, can play without having the document, and Kevin, from 2005, has to present it. All legal. But very difficult to explain - and moreso to a child.
