Wolves have issued a statement after footage went viral showing one of their academy players engaged in a violent brawl. The 58-second clip, which emerged online earlier this week, depicts two young England Under-16 footballers trading punches and kicks in a hotel room during a youth camp in Turkey in October 2025. The Football Association has confirmed the footage is authentic.
Club's response
In a statement on Sunday, Wolves said they are convinced the footage shows only "part of a much broader sequence of events" and "does not reflect the full circumstances surrounding the incident." The Championship club revealed that their academy player had been "subjected to repeated behaviour that caused him significant distress" before the altercation. Wolves expressed disappointment at those continuing to circulate the footage and condemned attempts to identify, threaten and abuse the player. The club added that instances of abuse and threats had been reported to the police.
Academy director's remarks
Academy director Jonathan Hunter-Barrett said: "While the academy does not condone violence under any circumstances, it is important to recognise that this footage captures only the final moments of a much longer sequence of events. It does not reflect the repeated behaviour this young player had been subjected to, the significant distress he had experienced beforehand, or the circumstances that led to the incident." He described the player as "respectful, humble" and said the video is not an accurate reflection of his character.
FA's position
The FA stated that the issue had already been handled internally and that no further action would be taken.
