“The third edition encompasses the latest amendments to the RSTP as well as detailed information on the regulations and case law of the FIFA Football Tribunal and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”
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Ally Mackay And Jason Levien: D.C. United’s Agents Of Change?
“The directives — which include a new license requirement and change how agents earn their commissions — are expected to decrease the total number of agents working in the field and potentially decrease agent earnings, arguably making club jobs more lucrative in the process.”
German Soccer’s $1B Stake Sale Could Have Multiple Bidders
(Excerpt): "The latest plan is designed to help bring in outside investors and much-needed cash, particularly as the DFL attempts to keep up with heightened competition from European powerhouses such as the Premier League and La Liga."
UEFA's multi-club ownership rules - explained
“The good news is that UEFA has already created a precedent for these rules to be ignored.”
Serie A nets uplift from first international deals
“These are the first assignments post-amendment to the so-called Melandri Law last year, confirming how necessary this change was to be able to improve the results of Serie A in the sale of rights abroad, where the recovery margin is greater compared to the United Kingdom and Spain.” - Lorenzo Casini, Lega Serie A President
OSN+, Anghami to Merge to Create Mideast Streaming Giant
“Dubai-based OSN+ and Anghami Inc. are merging to create one of the Middle East’s largest entertainment streaming services as they seek to fend off competition from rivals such as Spotify and Netflix. The new entity will have over 120 million registered users, 2.5 million paying subscribers and $100 million in revenue, the companies said in a joint statement.”
Talent Factory: How Do Benfica Develop So Many World Class Players?
“In terms of scale, Benfica's academy operation is bigger than most. The club has five talent centres across Portugal, meaning it is able to pluck talent from various different regions around the country and be ahead of the curve when it comes to identifying all the best Portuguese rising stars.”
$1B Saudi Arabian-FIFA Deal Expected To Follow 2034 World Cup Bid
“Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state-owned oil company, is close to becoming FIFA’s biggest sponsor in a deal that would include annual payments of up to $100 million through 2034, according to the London Times.”
Apple wants MLS to be the best soccer league in the world
“When I looked at the 10 years, yeah, in my mind, we got into this because we thought that together, we could build the best soccer league in the world. That’s the goal. That’s the objective. You know, we’re trying to be the best. Otherwise, why do it?” - Eddy Cue, Apple Senior Vice President
Premier League multi-club loan ban could impact Newcastle’s January transfer plan
“Some teams are keen for the rules to include permanent transfers between associated clubs, rather than just loans. They also want to restrict clubs from signing players back within two transfer windows of them leaving, to ensure they do not gain what is seen to be an unfair advantage over their peers.”
Abramovich’s hidden football deals during Chelsea’s time at the top
“Experts in sports law and finance said the findings indicate Abramovich’s Chelsea may have secretly bypassed Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules governing world football, helping propel the club to the pinnacle of the game, at the expense of its rivals.”
FIFA’s new agent rules in the balance as UK court set to deliver a merit ruling
“The case, brought against FIFA by a group if UK based agents including CAA, Stellar and ICM, is awaiting a merit decision on whether the new rules can be enforced under English law. … FIFA has currently suspended enforcing the implementation of the new rules while the UK case is waiting for judgement.”
Supreme Court seeks President Biden's view on case against U.S. Soccer
“A federal judge in 2021 dismissed Relevent's suit, but the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March reinstated it. The 2nd Circuit ruled that U.S. Soccer could be held liable if FIFA's rule is found to violate antitrust law because it had agreed to FIFA's rules as a member of the international body.”
From the EFAA General Assembly (13 November 2023)
Women’s soccer scores big with major broadcast deal
“The networks will pay a combined $240 million over the four seasons - $60 million annually - with CBS, currently in its fourth year in partnership with the NWSL, retaining the rights to the league’s season finale. The deals were brokered on behalf of the league by the Endeavor-owned IMG and WME Sports agencies.”
Read more from GlobalData.
Football agents victory in FIFA commission cap row
“Several football agents and agents' associations have initiated legal actions against FIFA. Over the summer, the Spanish Association of Football Players' Agents, along with 18 other football agents and agencies, filed a lawsuit against FIFA, as well as asking for interim measures to prevent FIFA from enforcing the FFAR fee cap. On November 6, 2023, the court ruled in the agents’ favour, marking a significant win for those opposing FIFA’s legislation.”
USL and CBS Sports reach landmark multi-year rights agreement
“Through the deal, CBS Sports will broadcast select USL matches, including the USL Championship Final, on the CBS Television Network– the first time USL competition will be featured on network television in league history. Matches on the CBS Television Network will also simulcast live on Paramount+. CBS Sports will also televise more than 20 USL matches on CBS Sports Network annually and 75 USL matches each season on CBS Sports Golazo Network, the 24/7 soccer streaming network available across multiple platforms, including Paramount+.”
How FIFA’s New Agent Regulations Could Change The Transfer Market
“The new rules shift agents’ incentives away from trying to get players to move clubs often or secure high transfer fees and toward trying to secure high wages for their clients.”
EFAA Statement on the Spanish court case decision (6 November 2023)
Athlete Investment Contracts Disguised as NIL Contracts
“In essence, athlete investing involves a company that “invests” in a student-athlete by compensating them to use their NIL and if the student-athlete ends up receiving a major sports league contract, the company is entitled to a percentage of that contract.”
EU Commission supports FIFA in row with football agents
“Strict new laws imposed by the world football governing body — including a cap on fees that agents can make from a player transfer deal — have won approval in Brussels ahead of a hearing at the Court of Justice of the European Union, according to the Commission's written submission to judges.”
Investors Dive Into Soccer’s Lower Tiers, Eye Untapped Market Potential
"If you fail on the sporting side, you’re going to fail on all other aspects of the investment. But if you can get the sporting side right, there’s so many other things you can do." - Matt Rizzetta, Chairman, North Sixth Group
Sports Attorney vs. Sports Agent
“Sports attorneys provide legal expertise and representation, while sports agents focus on contracts, finances, and career development.”
Kitman Labs Launches ‘The Football Intelligence Platform’ For Premier League Academies
“The platform gives academies data accuracy and the ability to conduct advanced analytics at a league, club, or player level. Staff will manage player pathways through performance benchmarking and personalised development plans, in addition to providing tools, reporting, insights and actionable data to achieve specific operating and performance outcomes.”
How the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Grew Hispanic Audiences
“Those particular national teams [Colombia and Spain], the delivery and the performance of both of those squads in this tournament was pretty impressive. The Hispanic audience, the Latino audience is very aspirational, and they look for stories that inspire them, and you couldn’t have asked for a better narrative from both clubs.” - Eli Velazquez, Telemundo Executive VP of Sports