World football governing body FIFA and the Lao Football Federation have pledged to investigate claims made in a report that a local club has been trafficking teenage African players into the country under false pretenses.

"We can confirm that FIFA is in contact with several member associations in order to gather all information to assess the matter and safeguard the interests of the minors," AFP quoted a FIFA spokesman as saying on Tuesday.

The Laos football federation’s general secretary Xaybandith Rasphone also said that investigators have been sent to the Champasak United club, located in the Laotian southern city of Pakse, to carry out a thorough investigation and conduct interviews with the players.

The investigations were launched after the UK state-run BBC published an interview with some of the boys who managed to leave the club on Tuesday, alleging that African teenage players were forced to live in terrible conditions at the academy of the club.

Based on FIFA regulations, players cannot be transferred to foreign clubs unless they are 18 years old, but the interviewees claimed that they were tricked into traveling to the Southeast Asian country with a false promise of a high salary.

Following their arrival, the boys were forced to sign lengthy contracts with less than the promised payment -- reportedly about $100 a month -- and sleep on the floor.

“It was very bad because you can't have 30 people sleeping in one room," said 14-year-old Kesselly Kamara, who is now playing for a Liberian club.

Another player described his time at the academy as "slave work.”

Champasak United has denied all the allegations saying the club was helping people from Africa.

“We started the program of allowing African males to join our academy where they learn how to play football with an international coach," said club board member Ponsawan Siwawong.

A total of 30 African footballers were brought into the academy, where they received accommodation and a monthly salary, Siwawong said, adding that “none were forced to play against their will.”