Two part article.In the second article we are reminded that STVV are one of four clubs fined under new Third Party Ownership rules. But overall it is a story of authorities, here and around the world, complicit in the corruption. You want to be an agent? Pay the FA £500, and , er, that's it. You're good to go.
People like
@nth london addick think I am too critical of agents, and their effect on the game. Read this and decide for yourselves. Mind you as the excellent lawyer from Mishcon says, it is the authorities' fault. They have completely abdicated their duties.It all adds up to the need for an independent regulator of football. Because as usual, when the 'free market" is just allowed to let rip, it is us punters who end up paying the bills.
Comments
Given the FA are, as you say, pretending, one wonders whether it might be more effective addressing the question to the Guardian....
Maybe it's too much trouble and they don't want to lose their nice corporate freebies.
(Free markets are what we might get after Brexit
I assume this is reference to the way RD runs Charlton. When he bought Charlton, he had the financial muscle (tick in the right box). In terms of stated aims, they surely were to progress to the Premier League (tick in the right box for your "stated aims" - nothing can be guaranteed).
Not therefore sure how the FA could judge at that stage that RD would fail the "fit and proper" criteria (whatever that is).
In fact other Trusts, led by Blackburn, have worked out that the entire regulatory environment of football (basically non-existent) is the problem and they are bringing together a group which will try to develop a frame work for a more effective regulatory system.
Footnote; @Dippenhall . So there is a place for regulation in a 'free" market? Good man. Definitely a closet Lib Dem there, once you have finally realised what a disaster Brexit is going to be :-)
- Prospective owner's must have undertaken an official 'football club ownership' course. Here they would be given clear guidance on the culture, history and traditions of the game. They'd also be given the facts about how many owners make/lose money from the game. There would be a mandatory test at the end of the course, failing this would preclude club ownership.
- Professional qualifications in place for CEOs and board members. No qualification, no job. This wouldn't just be a one-off test to pass, but there would be a strong element of ongoing development and monitoring against agreed professional competencies and ethics.
- The FA to run a club-monitoring scheme. Officials to meet with owners and officials on an annual basis to renew franchise to league. There would be a procedure in place enabling immediate intervention where there is cause for concern.
- All owners to pay a returnable deposit (a hefty amount based on club value). Any retained deposits to be used for the good of any clubs damaged by poor ownership.
- Requirement for all transfer fees including all associated payments (to agents, players and intermediaries) to be published within one year of registration. This to be done at an individual transfer level.
- All clubs to publish an official list of everyone engaged in football management, training or scouting. This to include name, position, reporting line, qualifications, responsibilities. Mandatory training for people in all such positions.
- Scheme to protect whistle-blowers who identify bad ownership/management practice.
- Fan engagement policy in place with every club required to hold scheduled meetings with agreed supporter groups (Trusts).
- Requirement for owners to attend a certain number of games per season. Fines for non compliance.
I realise that there will be significant legal hurdles to much of this and that there's unlikely to be the will for this to happen, either from within the FA or from amongst owners. But I am convinced that this is the sort of direction we ought to head in, if we want to rid our game of rogue owners.
"sharing ideas on the development of regulation that protects clubs and fans from bad ownership"
I am puzzled by your aggressive response to a comment which complimented you on making a very good point. No wonder English fans have a poor record of collaborative activity to protect and improve the game they all profess to care about so much.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your day.
this is getting a bit unique now guys...
From my perspective, this exchange of views has run it's course and I shant comment further.
The real barrier to implementing this, in my mind, is the concept of ownership. Now I appreciate that everything is owned, whether we like it or not; companies, properties and services generally have an owner. However, once someone owns something - what can you do if they're abusing it?
For instance, say I bought a car - other people would like that car, but would they have any right to criticise me if I took a sledgehammer to it one day? Not really. Now a football club isn't like a car or company, or any other form of property really, but one thing that has become apparent over the course of the last 2 years is that not everyone grasps this. (i.e Katrien and her comments about a restaurant, and having to respect the wishes of the shareholder)
What would you do if an owner doesn't comply with those requirements? Do you close the club? Do you fine it? Do you force them to sell, or simply confiscate the club? What if no one wants to buy the club?
I think something like Germany's rule regarding ownership, which ensures there will also be alternative shareholders available to take the reigns, in addition to Stig's suggestions would be ideal. Unfortunately, I can't ever imagine the FA rocking the boat with regards to the money men involved with the sport.
The biggest priority for football in the UK is the overhaul of the FA. Only then can there be real progress and true supporter representation at the highest level.
Alternative shareholders looks like a good idea, as for sanctions I'd guess some sort of fine though I must admit I do find the confiscation idea very appealing at the moment
Sadly whatever ideas we come up with as supporters, I can't see the footballing authorities doing anything. They are all to easily seduced by people with huge bank balances and no sense of responsibility.