Wolves have confirmed that one of their academy prospects was involved in a video showing two England under-16 players fighting inside a hotel room. The footage emerged on social media this week, showing the pair scrapping as teammates watched and filmed.
Club Responds to Footage
The Championship club released a statement on their website, saying the widely shared footage captures only part of a much broader sequence of events. Wolves stated they are satisfied that the video does not reflect the full circumstances, during which the young player had been subjected to repeated behaviour that caused him significant distress.
Wolves staff condemned those who have sought to identify, threaten, and abuse the young person involved, noting that instances of extreme abuse and threats have already been shared with police.
Academy Director's Comments
Wolves academy director Jonathan Hunter-Barrett added: 'Whilst 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 and humble, saying he has consistently demonstrated the standards expected from academy players. Hunter-Barrett emphasised that the club is incredibly proud of how the player has responded to the distressing incident and subsequent attention.
Welfare Priority
The statement noted that this has been an extremely difficult period for the player and his family, and the club's priority is their welfare. Wolves also encouraged people to consider the impact of sharing and commenting on footage involving minors. The FA previously said the fight was caused by an 'internal matter' and was 'quickly resolved'.
