FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed disapproval of the excessive spending by Premier League clubs on agents.
He suggested that allocating more funds to the clubs responsible for training and nurturing players signed from overseas would be a more beneficial approach.
A Football Association report some weeks ago revealed Premier League clubs spent a combined £409.5m on agents and intermediaries in the 12 months to February 2024, and according to Infantino most of this money is leaving football.
A FIFA report in December said English clubs accounted for almost a third of a record $888m spent on agents’ fees in international transfers in 2023.
As a result of that the FIFA President has revealed how the football governing body has tried to limit the amounts agents could earn from deals. However their efforts have been thwarted by a series of legal challenges, that have put the plans on hold
“At FIFA, we are trying to implement some clear and fair rules to the transfer system, including agents regulations, for the sake of transparency, accountability and better redistribution across all levels of the game, Because of that we were sued by some agents, but Fifa will continue to defend its position in court,” Infantino said.
The President also called on Governments to help him in his quest to limit the amounts paid to agents.
- 2022 World Cup: Black Stars ‘jama’ drum makes its way to FIFA Museum
- FIFA rankings don’t reflect the true forms of national teams – Former Black Stars forward
“I call on governments and lawmakers to join us and play an active role in ensuring the funds generated in transfers are kept within football and are shared with clubs from all around the world, as they are absolutely key for current and future generations of footballers,” He further stated.
These sanctions would be vital for thousands of less privileged clubs who struggle to generate sufficient revenue, and are therefore crucial for developing, training and giving opportunities to young players all over the world.