The modern trade in African slaves

Processes of migration in a globalising world can be understood through football. The migration of minor sub-Saharan African footballers contains features of irregular migration, human trafficking and exploitation. Policy responses have failed in prohibiting the trade of four types of commodified minor football talents on the global football market. To answer the question “what factors account for the failed policy responses in combating irregular football migration of sub-Saharan African minors that result in modern day slavery in the European football core and what can be done?” the logics and behaviour of minor players and their families, academies, intermediaries, clubs, associations, confederations, governments and the FIFA at the migratory stages of recruitment, transportation and accommodation have been analysed in combination with current policy responses, in order to designate the gaps in current legislation that facilitates the human trafficking and exploitation of minors in and through football. This thesis finds that the main obstacles in combating irregular football migration is the open space in the interface between the lack in the enforcement of football regulations due to the specificity of sport in European legislation and the lack of authority for football’s legislative bodies for sanctions for criminal practices outside of football.