Secret agents?

The seemingly closed world of football agents has come under close scrutiny in recent times. How football agents operate, how they conduct business and their professional standards have all come under the media microscope.

At a lecture at Edge Hill University at 1pm on Thursday, 26 February, the Director of the European Football Agents Associations (EFAA), Roberto Branco Martins will address current issues affecting football agents in Europe.

Topics will include the FIFA agents licensing system, the international movement of players, the transfer of young players and the role of third-party agreements in the sport, as in the case of Manchester United's Carlos Tévez, whose registration to play was owned by sports management company MSI rather than his own club.

Mr Branco Martins will describe the role of a football agent as indispensable in connecting and preserving the layers of the European Model of Sport. The EFAA describe the professional services provided by agents in the football sector as crucial for the education and development of talent and the protection of athletes whose careers are relatively short.

Prof. Richard Parrish, Director of the Centre for Sports Law Research at Edge Hill University, said: "We are delighted to welcome Mr Branco Martins to speak at the University. Anyone interested in the world of the football agent will be fascinated by the insight and guidance that Mr Branco Martins will provide.

"As well as offering a Masters Degree in International Sports Regulation, the Sports Law Research Centre, carries out funded consultancy for both public and private bodies on issues relevant to the legal regulation of sport. The staff here have produced reports for organisations including the European Parliament and the European Commission and regularly give papers at professional and academic events worldwide."

For more information or to reserve free tickets to the lecture, please email angela.samata@edgehill.ac.uk or telephone 01695 58 4112.

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