Clubs face new laws on transfer fees

Premier League clubs will have to declare exactly how much they have paid in transfer fees and payments to agents from next season.

The move is aimed at curtailing under-the-counter payments to agents, and clubs will also have to reveal exactly who has received the money.

But the details of the transfers will be given only to the Premier League and Football Association to monitor – they will not be available to the general public.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore told the Evening Standard: “We have been working on this for 18 months. You have to sign up to the idea of transparency so that everybody can see what money gets paid to whom.

“This idea that someone acts only for a player is an anachronism, because they also work for clubs. But you have to recognise that they are separate transactions.

“It will have to be declared who is acting for whom and who is being paid by whom and who is being paid what.

“Having aligned the regulations, it is then up to the authorities to make sure that sanctions should be applied if they are not adhered to.”

An all-party Parliamentary group is publishing a report today calling for more transparency within the game, but MPs believe the payments should be made public. The amount of money paid to agents has become a major issue, with an estimated £46million being paid to them in the 2001-02 season alone.

The FA’s board is being presented with the recommendations today following a report by their financial advisory committee, headed by economist Kate Barker.

Scudamore also warned off FIFA president Sepp Blatter from attempting to cut the number of clubs in England’s top flight.

Scudamore claims that a reduction from 20 clubs could happen only if the Premier League chairmen themselves were in favour of such a move – and at least 80% are dead against it.

Blatter wants there to be a maximum of 16 clubs in the top flight of any country to prevent player burn-out, and the matter is on the table for discussion at FIFA’s congress in May.

Scudamore added: “This is a matter for national associations. It is not something that can be mandated down from on high from FIFA, and we would resist any attempts by Blatter. I have a lot of regard for much of what he has achieved. But the reality on this one is that it is wishful thinking on his part.

“It will never happen just because Mr Blatter wants it to happen. If ever the Premier League decides to do it that is one thing. But it won’t happen because of decrees from on high.”