FIFA wants to curb the powers of so-called super agents when it comes to transfers.
A new set of regulations which is currently at the draft stage will mean that an agent will only be able to represent one party in a transfer – either the player, the selling, or the buying club – unless all involved agreed they can act on behalf both the buying and selling clubs.
In addition, the fees that they can earn from any particular deal are set to be limited to either only 3% of a player’s annual salary or, in the case of a selling club, 10% of the transfer fee. This will be a one-off sum.
This is an express move to reduce the amount clubs spend on agent’s fees which, in 2019, amounted to £500 million worldwide – a 19% increase over the previous year.
FIFA says the moves are an attempt to protect football from abusive practices, and to introduce minimum ethical standards for the governance of agents.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.