Football agents: From de-regulation to re-regulation and beyond

High-profile disputes involving football agents tend to come to light very often. Notwithstanding the fact that the increase in the use of social media makes the prevalence of headlines involving agents almost inevitable, it is also arguable that the enormous commodification of the game creates the basis for such headlines. The reader may question the necessity for the discipline of sports law to look deeper into this area of regulation. The cynic would pose the question: what is so special about football agents that would deserve a special inquiry? Although this is not an opening statement, some facts may allow the readers (cynics or not) to elicit the significant problems in the regulation of football agents. The lack of appropriate sanctions, where regulatory violations occur, contributes significantly to the perpetual existence of the issue, and it usually tends to damage the image of sport. This last point has enormous significance for the justification of the argument that the legitimacy of self-regulation and governance is severely dented. The above-underlined problems with the regulation of football agents may create the basis for the present work. More significantly, they may assist the reader in appreciating the significance of this area of regulation, not only for the discipline of sports law but for society too.