Chelsea's recruitment of young talent is under scrutiny after it emerged Burkina Faso international Bertrand Traore played for their under-18s side when aged 16, in an apparent breach of FIFA regulations.

Chelsea could even face the prospect of being placed under a transfer embargo if found guilty of wrongdoing.

The Blues deny the allegations and believe Traore was the subject of an option agreement which allowed him to play in friendly games.

FIFA rules prohibit the international transfer of a minor (a player under the age of 18), with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid earlier this month handed transfer embargoes for the next two complete windows after breaching the regulations. Both clubs plan to contest the sanctions.

Barcelona were placed under a transfer embargo for infringing the same rules in 2014 and have only this month been allowed to register players again.

Rising to the top

Talent: Bertrand Traore is highly rated at Chelsea

Emerged at the 2009 FIFA under-17 World Cup. At 14 he was the youngest player in the tournament.

He agreed a move to Chelsea in August 2010, according to Burkina Faso sports minister Jean-Pierre Palm, one month prior to his 15th birthday.

FIFA regulations say players aged over 16 can move within the EU, but broader international transfers must be over 18. Rule 19.1 on the protection of minors states: "International transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18." Barcelona were handed a transfer embargo after being found guilty of breaching the regulation. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are contesting similar sanctions.

Traore, now 20, played for Chelsea under-18s in a friendly at Arsenal in October 2011, when he was 16. Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, who have both also been members of Chelsea's first-team squad, played that day, too.

He travelled on Chelsea's pre-season tour to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta in July 2013, playing as a trialist and scoring against a Malaysia XI.

Signing on the dotted line

Working hard: Chelsea's midfielder Bertrand Traore takes part in a training session

He officially signed for Chelsea on January 1, 2014, the first day of the transfer window which followed his 18th birthday (on September 6, 2013). He was immediately loaned to Vitesse Arnhem, with whom Chelsea have close links, and spent 18 months with the Dutch side in the Eredivisie.

In June 2015 he was granted a work permit to stay in England and he joined Chelsea's first-team squad for the tour to North America, staying with the group when the season began.

He attended the fee-paying Whitgift School in Croydon, south London, for sixth-form, but did not play in school competitions. The school's head of football is former Chelsea player Colin Pates.

Traore became Whitgift's first full football international, with Victor Moses following when he represented Nigeria.

Response to the row

Head down: Baba Rahman (R) and Bertrand Traore (L) during a training session

A FIFA spokesperson told Press Association Sport: "We are not in a position to comment on any investigations that are ongoing so as not to compromise the process, nor do we provide any comments as to whether or not any investigations are under way."

Press Association Sport supplied a number of questions to Chelsea in an attempt to clarify their position regarding Traore's involvement in games when he was under 18.

However they would only say: "Bertrand Traore was registered by Chelsea FC in January 2014 in compliance with FA and Premier League Rules.

"Prior to that date, he was party to an option agreement which enabled the club to acquire his registration in January 2014.

"The option agreement was registered with, and approved by, both The FA and the Premier League."

Praise for the prospect

Impressed: Former boss Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho, speaking on Chelsea's pre-season tour to Asia in 2013 - the first of his second spell as manager, said then: "Now we want to keep him. We have to wait until he becomes 18 to try to get a permit for him to stay in England.

"It's the rules and we have to accept them. He plays for his national team. Sooner or later the committee has to give him a permit to play in England."

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said later on the same tour: "He's certainly not looked out of place in training alongside some top international players. I'm sure he's got a bright future at Chelsea."

After officially signing for Chelsea at the first opportunity, he was swiftly loaned to Vitesse Arnhem, with whom the Blues have close links, and spent 18 months with the Dutch side in the Eredivisie.

Vitesse boss at the time Peter Bosz said Mourinho was "crazy about him" and wanted Traore to be part of his first-team squad.

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