Third-party ownership in association football

Third-party ownership in association football is the ownership of a player's economic rights by third-party sources, such as football agents, sports-management agencies, or other investors. Note that this differs from co-ownership in football, where a player's transfer rights are shared between two clubs.

The involvement of investors in the 'ownership' of players is a common practice in football, particularly in Brazil and Argentina, where many clubs are insolvent or financially limited. Businessmen or other investors buy shares in the economic rights of young players and often cover the costs of their training and accommodation. In return they are entitled to a percentage of a player's future transfer fee.[1]

In April 2015, FIFA announced the banning of third-party ownership, and specifically prohibited either clubs or players from entering into economic rights agreements with third-party investors.[2] The ban took effect on 1 May 2015. The European Parliament also announced a similar ban in European sports on 11 November 2015 following the passing of Rule 136 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. In a written declaration, the European Parliament states that third-party ownership raises concerns over the integrity of competitions and introduces risks of criminal activities into sports.[3]

Regulations

At its AGM in June 2008 the English Premier League drafted new rules L34 and L35 to outlaw any type of third party ownership of players from the beginning of the 2008-9 season.[4] The league's rule U18 had previously stated that the third parties were not permitted to "materially influence" a club's "policies or the performances of its teams".[1]

In October 2007 it was reported that Football's international governing body, FIFA, was acting to ban 'third-party' ownership.[5] Article 18 of FIFA's Rules on the Status and Transfer of Players does restrict the practice, at least as far as a third party's influence is concerned, stating that: "No club shall enter into a contract which enables any other party to that contract or any third party to acquire the ability to influence in employment and transfer related matters its independence, its policies or the performance of its teams".[4]

In September 2014 UEFA announced they were going to tackle the issue.[6] Later that month FIFA announced they would ban the practice.[7] In July 2015 a Belgian court rejected an appeal against the banning of third-party ownership.[8]

Criticism

Third-party ownership became highly controversial in English football after the arrival at West Ham United of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from the Brazilian club Corinthians in August 2006. One high-ranking English official called it, "an unedifying trade in young people that rips the heart out of clubs which try to develop players".[9]

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, said of third-party ownership: "It is like trading in human beings. And it's destabilising for outsiders to have a financial interest in players."[10]

In April 2015 UEFA and Fifpro spoke out against the practise, stating it should be outlawed.[11]

Defence

Defenders of the practice said that it constitutes a way of sharing the burden of investment in a player. The 'super agent' Pini Zahavi, himself associated with third-party ownership and the companies that invested in players, said: "In England they don't understand it at all. It's easier to buy a player who you are unsure about for £10m if you are sharing the risk with a partner. Now, if the player becomes top-drawer and is sold for £30m, then of course you may feel stupid only to own half. But if the player turns out to be merely average or a failure, if he cannot even be sold, you will say, 'Fantastic, the disaster was not only mine'. That's exactly the way it works."[10]

The businessman Kia Joorabchian, heavily involved in the third-party ownership of players, defended the arrangement, calling it "the South American model and a model that appears all over Europe".[12] In his view third-party transfers are "a way of bringing outstanding players to clubs that would not be able to afford them ordinarily. So they increase the competition", further explaining: "What happens, in Brazil particularly, clubs cannot afford to buy a player. So they go to a business, a bank, a major supermarket, an individual, a person, a wealthy individual and say: 'We want Mr X. You put up 70, 80, 100 per cent of the money, let him play here.' It is a little bit like a loan deal between two clubs, except it is a loan deal between the club and a third party".[13]

After the Premiership introduced rules against third-party ownership, lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont claimed that it was illegal.[14]

Examples

Corinthians

In 2004 the Media Sports Investments fund, founded and headed by Kia Joorabchian, purchased a controlling 51% of Corinthians in a 10-year deal. In the wake of MSI's involvement a stream of new players arrived at the club, players who were engaged to play for Corinthians but whose economic rights were partly or wholly owned by the investment fund. By 2006 MSI was listing as its investments not just Corinthians itself but also the players Carlos Tevez, Marcelo Mattos, Gustavo Nery, Roger, Javier Mascherano, Carlos Alberto, Sebastián Domínguez, Marinho,[15] Rafael Moura[16] and Nilmar.

Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano

On 31 August 2006 Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano moved to West Ham United in the English Premier League from Brazilian side Corinthians for an undisclosed fee.[17] It subsequently emerged that Tevez's economic rights were owned by Media Sports Investments and a second company, Just Sports Inc.,[18] while Mascherano was jointly owned by Global Soccer Agencies and Mystere Services Ltd.[1][19] All four companies were represented by Kia Joorabchian and the deal was brokered by MSI, whose president Joorabchian had been until June 2006.[17][20]

Due to irregularities in the player's contracts, West Ham United were eventually fined a record £5.5 million by the Premier League.[21] Despite the fine, Tevez was allowed to continue playing for West Ham United.[22] Both players remained in England after the controversy; Tevez moved to Manchester United while Mascherano went to play for Liverpool. Manchester United failed to agree a price with Tevez's owner and he left for city rival Manchester City in summer 2009. Joorabchian subsequently claimed that many Premier League players and teams conceal their third-party ownership of players.[23]

The Premier League took steps to outlaw third-party ownership in 2008.[24]

Anderson

In 2007 the Brazilian footballer Anderson was transferred from Porto to Manchester United. As part of that deal Porto paid the agent Jorge Mendes a reported £4 million for his share of Anderson's registration. Mendes was said to have contributed 20% of the £3.75 million Porto paid Anderson's previous club, Gremio, to sign the midfielder in 2006.[25]

Jô

In June 2008, the transfer of Brazilian player Jô from Russian side CSKA Moscow to English team Manchester City was initially blocked by the Premier League while they investigated the third-party ownership of the player.[26][27] Jô, who had played at Corinthians before moving to CSKA Moscow in 2006, was associated with Media Sports Investments and Kia Joorabchian.[28]

In 2009 it was reported that the unnamed investors represented by Joorabchian were understood to own the economic rights to 60 or 70 players across Europe and South America. He was linked with Manchester City's failed bid for then A.C. Milan midfielder Kaká.[29]

Ramires

In June 2010 it was reported that Kia Joorabchian had secured a 50% share in the Brazilian midfielder Ramires,[30] then at Benfica but subject to transfer interest from across Europe, led by Chelsea in the English Premier League.[31][32] The deal was reportedly part of an agreement reached with Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira the previous year at the time of Ramires' transfer to Benfica from Cruzeiro in Brazil.[31] A further 30% of the player's rights were reportedly owned by Joorabchian's associate Pini Zahavi.[33]

Ramires completed his move to Chelsea on 13 August 2010 on a four-year contract for a reported fee of £17million.[34] It is thought that Joorabchian would receive £6m of this fee.[35]

Portugal

As third-party ownership is allowed in Portugal, agent company GestiFute, and investment funds bought part of the economic rights of the players, namely Bebé, Deco, etc. Porto, Sporting and Boavista once partnered with First Portuguese to set up an investment fund, while Benfica set up its own fund – Benfica Stars Fund.

A part of football agent company and bank fund, José Bosingwa was once shared by Porto and International Foot,[36] while Manuel Fernandes was partly owned by Global Sports Agency.[37] Porto also sold 37.5% economic rights of João Moutinho to Mamers BV.[38] After acquired 75% economic rights of Walter, Porto re-sold 25% economic rights to Pearl Design Holding Ltd. for €2,125,000.[38][39] Aly Cissokho's 10% rights was once held by "Onsoccer – International Gestão e Marketing, S.A.", an agent until he was sold to Lyon.[38]

South America and rest of the world

Traffic Group owned Brazilian Gustavo[40] and 50% of Mozambican Mexer.[41] It also acquired rights of Diego and Lenny from Fluminense in January 2008.[42] In 2009, it acquired all the rights of Alan Douglas, 50% of Maicon, Dalton, Raphael Augusto; 30% of Sandro, Bob; 25% of João Paulo, Brayan and Matheus Carvalho; 20% of Tartá.[43] It owned 25% shares on Hernanes until he transferred to Lazio.[44] FC Barcelona bought Keirrison and Henrique from Palmeiras, but on its annual report, it shown the payment were transferred to Desportivo Brasil Participaçoes Ltda.[45]

Turbo Sports owned Colombian 80% of Pablo Armero's rights.[46]

From December 2010 to January 2011, TEISA bought 5% and 20% rights of Neymar and Elano respectively.[47][48]

Others

Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Uruguay

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Conn, David (21 March 2007). "Hammers face a pounding over third-party player agreements". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  2. ↑ "Third - party own ership of players' economic rights" (PDF). FIFA.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "WRITTEN DECLARATION submitted under Rule 136 of the Rules of Procedure". Europa.eu. European Parliament. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Hero's or Villains? Third party ownership in the Premier League". Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Ledsom, Mark (30 October 2007). "FIFA bans third-party ownership of players". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/23/uefa-third-party-ownership-champions-league
  7. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29373456
  8. ↑ "FIFA welcomes legal win for ban on third-party ownership"
  9. ↑ Winter, Henry (15 May 2009). "The sooner Kia Joorabchian leaves English football the better". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  10. 1 2 Jackson, Jamie (26 November 2005). "Profile: Pini Zahavi, football's first and only super-agent". The Observer. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  11. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32142699
  12. ↑ Castles, Duncan (5 October 2008). "Kia the fixer". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  13. ↑ Clayton, Lee. "Lifting the lid on £40 million Tevez", The Daily Mail, 17 May 2007. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  14. ↑ Sinnott, John (27 October 2011). "Third-party owner rule not 'legitimate' - Bosman lawyer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Media Sports Investments website 30 Nov 2006" Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  16. ↑ Canônico, Leandro (25 July 2008). "Agora no Atlético-PR, Rafael Moura segue representado por Kia Joorabchian". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  17. 1 2 "West Ham sign Tevez & Mascherano". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  18. ↑ Conn, David (14 July 2009). "Kia Joorabchian should now tell us where the Carlos Tevez £25m is going". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  19. ↑ Bilal, Ahmed. "Original Tevez and Mascherano contracts with West Ham", Soccerlens.com, 8 June 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  20. ↑ Kelso, Paul (2006-09-01). "Eyebrows raised at deal shrouded in mystery". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  21. ↑ "West Ham handed record £5.5m fine". BBC Sport. 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  22. ↑ "West Ham receive Tevez clearance". BBC Sport. 2007-04-28. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  23. ↑ Wilson, Bill. "Action urged on footballer investment" BBC 12 October 2007. Retrieved 2010-08-04
  24. ↑ Wilson, Jeremy (2008-02-02). "Premiership third-party ownership set to end". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  25. ↑ "Jose agent's £4m jackpot on Anderson". The Evening Standard. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  26. ↑ "Jo transfer hits ownership snag". BBC Sport. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  27. ↑ McGarry, Ian (2008-06-18). "Jo's City move is Tevez II". The Sun. London. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  28. ↑ Wilson, Steve (18 June 2008). "Man City hit ownership problems in bid for Jo". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  29. ↑ "Sport Lisboa e Benfica - Futebol SAD announces disposal of a percentage of athlete Ramires' financial rights." (PDF). SL Benfica (in Portuguese). Published by CMVM. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  30. 1 2 Massi, Alexandre. "Kia Joorabchian adquire 50% dos direitos econômicos de Ramires", globo.com 24 June 2010 Retrieved 2010-07-26
  31. ↑ Mascaskill, Sandy."Chelsea lead chase for £20m Benfica's Brazilian midfielder Ramires", The Daily Telegraph 22 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-26
  32. ↑ "Chelsea's Ramires offer under scrutiny". ESPN. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  33. ↑ "RAMIRES SIGNS FOR CHELSEA". Chelsea F.C. 2010-08-13. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  34. ↑ "Chelsea complete signing of Brazil midfielder Ramires". BBC. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  35. ↑ "Report and Consolidated Accounts 2007/08" (PDF). FC Porto. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  36. ↑ "Fernandes snubs Everton for Spain". BBC News. 27 August 2007.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FC Porto 2009–10 Annual Report" (PDF). FC Porto. 25 October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  38. ↑ "FC Porto Half Yearly Report (2010–11)" (PDF). FC Porto (in Portuguese). 25 February 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  39. ↑ "Gustavo se despede do Palmeiras e espera ter mais chances no Cruzeiro". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 30 January 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  40. 1 2 "Oferta pública de subscrição - Prospecto" [Public Offer for Subscription – Prospectus] (pdf). Sporting CP (in Portuguese). 10 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  41. ↑ "Accounts at 31 December 2008". Fluminense. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  42. ↑ "Balanço Patrimonial 2009". Fluminense FC (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  43. ↑ http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas/2008/04/17/ult59u153602.jhtm
  44. ↑ "FC Barcelona 2009–10 Annual Report" (PDF). FC Barcelona (in Spanish). 22 September 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  45. ↑ "Palmeiras confirma acordo por Armero; agente nega e diz ter mais 3 propostas". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 26 August 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  46. ↑ "NOTA OFICIAL: Santos FC esclarece relação com a Terceira Estrela Investimentos S.A.". Santos FC (in Portuguese). 2 December 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  47. ↑ "Santos FC acerta venda de 20% dos direitos econômicos de Elano à TEISA". Santos FC (in Portuguese). 19 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  48. ↑ "Comunicado da FC Porto – Futebol, SAD" (in Portuguese). fcporto.pt. 2009-07-06. Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  49. ↑ "Agent disgusted by Rangers". BBC Sport. 2003-07-10. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  50. ↑ "Facto Relevante" (PDF) (in Portuguese). fcporto.pt. 31 August 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "Calejado, Felipe se apresenta ao Flamengo: "Nunca fui santo e nem vou ser"". Gazeta Esportes (in Portuguese). 29 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  52. 1 2 "Santos FC 2008 annual report" (PDF). Santos FC (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  53. ↑
  54. ↑ "Meia Kerlon e atacante Jonathas são negociados com o futebol europeu". Cruzeiro EC (in Portuguese). 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  55. ↑ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/249854-ze-roberto-transfer-scandal-not-the-bargain-he-was-thought-to-be
  56. ↑ "Olympiakos contrata Leonardo, da Lusa". globoesporte.com (in Portuguese). 26 January 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
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