League takes firm stance on agents’ fees

THE Football League is to put an end to the system whereby agents get paid by both parties in transfer deals.

The dual payments and representation by agents in transfer deals must stop, Football League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney said yesterday.

Mawhinney, the former Northern Ireland minister, was speaking during a seminar on ethics, transparency and accountability at the Soccerex convention for the football industry in Dubai.

Sitting alongside leading agent Dennis Roach, FIFA director of communications Markus Siegler and AC Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini, Mawhinney said the Football League wanted to tighten up the process in which payments are made to players’ agents in transfer deals and would consult its 72 member clubs on ending the dual payments whereby the clubs pay agents to bring their players to them.

The League, which already demands its clubs produce a list of payments to agents twice a year, wants the player to pay any commission.

“This is not an issue that is going to go away,” Mawhinney said. “There is some reason to believe that dual representation is in transgression of British employment regulations.”

He added that the core of the problem was FIFA was not policing its own statutes which forbid such a system. “I am not anti-agent but I am concerned about issues of conflict of interest, reputational cost, obscurity, and transparency.”

Outside the conference room, Mawhinney added: “I’m with the good guys on this and support what FIFA is saying but the failing lies with FIFA.” Mawhinney is also at odds with the Football Association, the game’s governing body in England, with whom he wants to discuss the issue. He said Premier League clubs were not keen to enter the debate and added: “Far be it from me to suggest it but it has been said that the Premier League tail is wagging the FA dog.”

Mawhinney expressed sympathy for the Premiership clubs’ situation. “Not only do they compete as Premier League clubs but they also compete in Europe and would be at a competitive disadvantage.”

The Football League chairman said the issue would be discussed by his member clubs next month.

Agent Dennis Roach said players were reluctant to pay agents’ commissions themselves but added he would welcome a fixed percentage commission for all agents in transfers, suggesting 5-7%.