Agents in the spotlight

Wide spectrum
The working group comprises representatives of UEFA, FIFA, major European clubs, national associations, the players' union FIFPro, the professional football leagues and agents themselves. Recommendations are divided into three main areas – access to the profession of agent, activity as an agent and enforcement of rules and regulations on agents. They have been drawn up after several months of work, including various meetings, as well as an in-depth study of other sports as well as industry.

Comprehensive survey
The studies came after UEFA had been requested on various occasions by key stakeholders within the game to take action regarding players' agents in European football. The recommendations will now be sent to the UEFA Executive Committee and other bodies for consideration. At the same time UEFA is also making a comprehensive survey of licensed European player agents with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the views of agents, who currently have no representative body at European level.

Monitoring agents
UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson recently spoke of a need for better control of players' agents and their activities. Mr Olsson said the necessity for monitoring agents was particularly urgent because many of the agents were handling huge financial amounts, or not conducting themselves in the proper manner.

Agents' behaviour
"There are agents that are behaving properly, and doing a good job, but there are also agents who are not," Mr Olsson said. "We have got indications, for example, from some of the governments in Europe that they are afraid that agents were involved in money-laundering and other strange activities.

Reasonable demand
"We think there is a need for better control – an agent should perhaps be checked every second year, to know whether they are competent in the job," the CEO continued. "We think that is a reasonable demand – that you should have a certain knowledge about the business you are taking care of."