Is There a Relationship Between Professionalism in Football and Disrespecting Contracts?

Written by Dr. Hamada Alantably

Recently, the football scene has been plagued by numerous disputes between club management, players, and coaches demanding their outstanding financial dues. These issues stem from clubs failing to honor the contracts signed with their personnel and neglecting their obligations. One of the most prominent phenomena to emerge lately is players signing with new clubs while still under contract with their current ones, exploiting legal loopholes, or falling prey to the manipulation of lawyers and agents. These brokers lure players with promises of financial gain or imaginary “professional” offers from European clubs—particularly those in Switzerland, known for contracting players still bound to their original teams by using temporary international registration cards. This allows the new club to field the player and eventually sell them to other European clubs, leaving the player embroiled in legal disputes with their original team.

Similarly, a major instance of disrespecting contracts occurs when clubs negotiate with players or obtain their signatures while they are still registered with another club, often outside the legally permitted window for negotiations. There are many such examples, and many club administrations are crying out for help against these actions by larger clubs, which proceed without regard for ethical or contractual boundaries.

It is worth noting the mechanism of contracting between players and their clubs. Every player is bound by a contract with a specific duration, typically involving three copies: one for the player, one for the club’s official records, and the third held by the National Federation. This third copy is crucial, as it allows the National Federation to act as an arbitrator in any dispute between the player and the club. If the local federation cannot resolve the conflict, the player must turn to the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber, the final authority over players, clubs, and federations alike. FIFA’s decisions are absolute and non-negotiable.

The contracting mechanism relies on an intermediary (the broker) between the two parties, known as the “player’s agent.” This agent must be FIFA-accredited for the process to be legal. Usually, the agent receives a significant percentage of the contract value, which varies from one agent to another. FIFA sets specific guidelines, typically starting at 5% of the contract value; however, an agent can walk away with astronomical sums in a single deal. Consequently, the agent often acts like a cunning fox, constantly claiming that multiple clubs are chasing the player—a common ploy seen in press conferences—until the player settles for the club that offers the highest price.

The question that arises is: Is this true “professionalism”? Is loyalty to money alone the standard and indicator of success in this warped system, which we call “professional” but is clearly deviant? Is there anyone who can answer?

By Dr. Hamada Alantably