‘Trust me I am a Football Agent’. The discursive practices of the players’ agents in (un)professional football

Abstract

FIFA’s decision to deregulate the industry is perhaps a reflection of the neoliberal influences surrounding the organization to let the agents govern themselves and deal with the wrongdoings of the alleged bribery, exploitation and trafficking of young players. However, it can also be seen as the organization’s inefficiency to maintain the primacy of self-regulation and self-governance in matters such as agents’ global leadership and regulation of practices. This paper, using qualitative data collected from players, agents and managers from professional football leagues in the UK and Ireland, aims to uncover the unethical, extremely complex and deceptive sides of the agents’ industry. Two key issues are unpacked: (i) the alleged (un)ethical behaviour of football agents that provokes so much hostility in the football world; (ii) the power shift(s) from clubs and managers to agents and players and the implications these may have on the ethics of the business practices in football.

Notes

1. Prior to deregulation, in order to undertake the work of a players’ agent, an individual must be one of the following: a licensed players’ agent; a solicitor or barrister in possession of a current practicing certificate; the parent, spouse or sibling of the particular player in question. Players may still represent themselves.

2. There are at least four types of agent operating in professional football. Firstly, the most popular type is the solo agent. These are licensed agents who deal mainly with transfers and contracts. Secondly, the sports agency which provides a wider support service beyond contract negotiations and also has an agents licence. Thirdly, the solicitor who provides legal services and may not have an agents licence. Finally, the promotions agency, which provides advice on career management and promotion opportunities but has no agents licence.

3. Under FIFA regulations, a player is allowed to commence negotiations with other clubs six months from the end of a contract. From a player’s perspective it seems only reasonable that a player be allowed to negotiate during, what is in effect, his notice period. However players who have already negotiated and signed contracts with rival clubs for the next season are placed in a position where, should the teams meet, a conflict of interest may arise.