[U.S. U-17 BOYS NATIONAL TEAM] Michael Seaton, a 16-year-old forward who recently signed a homegrown contract with D.C. United, had to withdraw from a U.S. U-17 national team camp because he had represented Jamaica in official competition.

Seaton emigrated from his native Jamaica when he was 7 and played for the Freestate Soccer Alliance, a Maryland-based youth system now aligned with D.C. United, reports the Washington Post’s Steven Goff.

Seaton attended the U.S. U-17 Residency in Bradenton, Fla., in 2011 but last summer scored goals for Jamaica in the Caribbean preliminary qualifying round for the 2013 U-17 World Cup.

FIFA does allow dual-citizen players to change allegiances but it requires a formal request, which Seaton had not made.

Writes Goff: “The USSF didn’t recognize the problem until Wednesday, despite the fact Seaton’s Jamaican exploits — goals against both Bermuda and Antigua & Barbuda — are documented on Concacaf’s web site and his story was told in the media upon signing with United.

“It’s unclear why the USSF didn’t do its due diligence in this matter; why Seaton didn’t discuss his Jamaican ties with U.S. officials; and why United didn’t broach the subject with the USSF when [U.S. U-17 Coach Richie] Williams requested Seaton last week.”

The U.S. U-17s will compete in Concacaf’s U-17 World Cup qualifying tournament in April in Panama. Seaton had been slated to join the squad for preparation games in Panama this week.

In January, Seaton made history as the first player born after the launch of MLS in 1996 to sign with the league.