Football
Age fabrication controversy in football: The player with 'four ages'
Updated 1557 GMT (2357 HKT) February 1, 2013
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The fabrication of players' ages continues to be a problem for football. One international -- Democratic Republic of Congo defender Chancel Mbemba Mangulu -- has "four different birthdays". Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images/file
Mbemba was recently with the Congolese squad at the Africa Cup of Nations. He is pictured here, standing behind the team's French coach Claude Leroy, in a training session. Mbemba was not used by Leroy in the tournament. Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images
The Democratic Republic of Congo went out of the competition at the group stage after drawing all three of their games. Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images
Mbemba was born in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, as was another of the city's most famous sons French midfielder Claude Makelele, who played for Nantes, Marseille, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain.
Africa's second biggest country, the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen more than its fair share of violence and its citizens are some of the poorest in the world. PHIL MOORE/AFP/Getty Images
Mbemba was registered by his first Congolese club - E.S. La Grace -- as having been born on August 8, 1988, according to one of the documents obtained by CNN. The documents -- showing Mbemba's various ages -- were provided by the Brazilian agent Paulo Teixeira, who was called in by E.S. La Grace to obtain money they claimed was owed to them by Anderlecht for training the player in his formative years. In attempting verification of these documents -- from FIFA, the various federations and clubs involved -- only the world governing body and the Belgian Football Assocation responded directly to CNN's request by saying they appeared to be authentic. Paulo Teixeira
In another document obtained by CNN, Mbemba was registered by his second Congolese club -- Mputu -- as also having been born on August 8,1988. Paulo Teixeira
When Mbemba obtained a Belgian citizenship document in July 2011, a month after he arrived in Europe, his date of birth is now dated August 8, 1994. Paulo Teixeira
That meant when Mbemba played for Anderlectht's Under-19 team against Club Brugge in September 2011, the Congolese defender was now six years younger than when he had been playing for his first two Congolese clubs. A professional Belgian referee confirmed to CNN that the Anderlecht team sheet was the type of document used in Belgian football.
The Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association -- FECOFA -- regulates football in the Democratic Republic of Congo. FECOFA's president is Constant Omari and is pictured here walking behind president of the Confederation of African Football Issa Hayatou (R) in January 2010. Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images/file
In April 2012, Anderlecht confirmed in a letter to FIFA that Mbemba had been sent back to Kinshasa, but later that year he returned to the Brussels club. The Belgian FA confirmed that this document is geniune. Paulo Teixeira
In April 2012, Mbemba was sent back to the Congo, but by August 2012 he was back at Anderlecht when he was given a three-year professional contract. Anderlecht's general manager Herman van Holsbeeck is pictured here sitting in the club's stadium watching a first-team training session. John Thys/AFP/Getty Images/file
The Congolese players of Frenchman Leroy, who is pictured here, went on a two-day strike just before the start of the Africa Nations Cup following a row with the country's football federation over bonus payments. Junior D. Kannah/AFP/Getty Images/file
Leroy's side came back from 2-0 down to deny Ghana victory in their first game of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations. Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Anderlecht have a number of Congolese players in their squad and the Brussels club's forward Dieumerci Mbokani was recently elected Belgium's player of the year. Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images
The Democractic Republic of Congo's progress at the Africa Cup of Nations was avidly followed back in Kinshasa. Junior D Kannah/AFP/Getty Images
