30 May 2019 21:51:46
Question for ed002 if possible,

Do you know if the FA/ FIFA/ UEFA plan to change how agents are regulated? Personally I think the ridiculous sums of money involved in transfers would be very different if certain agents were not paid huge percentages of the transfer, it seems like agents has been a runaway problem since the late 80s especially around Europe.

{Ed002's Note - Yes, the Premier League are aware of the problem but largely they created the issue themselves (with the help of The FA) - but they have put proposals together. However, the proposals are rather naive and they are getting above themselves if they are to continue to expect other FAs to follow suit and fit in with handling of agent fees and a couple of the other matters that are on the table. In terms of the issue with agents, they have become obsessed with the extreme examples and have lost sight of the norm. They should be making representation to FIFA via The FA and talking with UEFA.

They also want stricter rules and exams for agents to crack down on that side of the industry.

The proposals are:

- Re-introduce formal registration (including an exam)
- Agent fees to be paid by players (this is simply not practical and won't happen or will lead to more "consultancy")
- Agents must have a UK bank account where fees can be paid (this is not an issue for most, but it is a major issue for one or two agents)
- Fees must be paid over the length of the contract rather than a lump sum (this is open to negotiation with the clubs agreeing to fees being aligned to payments - so a lump sum if the transfer fee is payed up front, or spread over a longer period to align with instalments - this is a major issue if there is not an agreement with other countries - and clubs have warned there could be liturgation)
- Ending dual/multiple representation (not an issue for most clubs in the Premier League but quite common to all clubs and parties in the lower leagues and will see significant increase in costs)

Premier League clubs want assurances that other countries will follow suit before acceptance - they don't want another shambles like the transfer window debacle.}

1.) 31 May 2019
31 May 2019 09:53:39
Thanks ed. Some of these seem like good suggestions but some are just impractical and like you said naive.

Players paying fees? That would easily be circumvented.

However ending multiple agents and representation is a good idea as is proper registration.


I was curious if anyone had discussed the idea of putting restrictions on the buying club to limit how much can be spent on one player. It's such a difficult problem to solve in football and in all likelyhood I don't think the issue of rising transfers will ever be resolved.

{Ed002's Note - Oddly, multiple representation may not a bad thing for lower league clubs as it saves the clubs money. Some players rely very heavily on their agents on a day-by-day basis - others rarely have involvement with them - and others don't have agents at all. Many clubs use agents in many different ways - some clubs pay agents for advice of such things as managerial appointments. And already good progress has been made in terms of ending agents having part ownership of players, open accounting etc.. And that is nothing to do with The FA.

There cannot be a transfer cap due to the massive disparity between the leagues across the world, and that will never be resolved. Post a breakaway the expectation is that there will be some revelling of expectations and as the high-end sponsorship and television money drifts away after a few years.

In the bigger sceme of things, if they want to do something useful they could outlaw any business being done with the gutter end of the business where we have the likes of certain "parties" using Deportivo Maldonado to abuse the rules at the expense of the careers of players (Jonathan Calleri is still out on loan, now at Alavés). Or why not work with others to completely clear the game of the exploitation of youngsters so we never need to hear the al Bangura tale again?}

2.) 31 May 2019
31 May 2019 10:56:11
Ed002, what about enacting stipulations like the NFL have where an agent has to have a law degree, I know this won't completely rule out slime balls.

{Ed002's Note - Agencies, not agents, need to have a lawyer on the books to operate in certain countries - e.g. Germany and Italy. It is not something that would change anything.}