Ama Agbeze MBE LLB MSc

Of interest to my football agent/club followers, we have today seen the outcome of an unusual FA Regulatory Commission, which arose from Reading FC entering into an agreement with an agent (at the time, a FA Registered Intermediary) to pay him 10% of any future transfer fee they received for the player the agent represented (believed to be Michael Olise). Such an agreement clearly breached the FA rules in force at the time. Concluding that the breaches of the relevant Regulations were "both serious and concerning", Reading have been fined £200,000, two officers of the club reprimanded, Mr Howe (CEO) suspended for six months from involvement in player contract/transfer negotiations and a further six months from all football-related activity (and fined £5,000), and the agent concerned suspended for six months and fined £15,000. This is one of very few cases where we see the serious consequences for both club and agent, where the parties have entered into contractual arrangements that are in breach of the relevant FA Regulations. For any clubs, agents or players who may need advice on such contractual, regulatory and disciplinary matters, Leathes Prior Solicitors can assist. #LPSports

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Women in Football calling for best practice governance and diversity of governance in football clubs. Let’s increase the 10% female board members on PL club boards and the pitiful 5% in the EFL. What an opportunity the new governance code within the independent regulator could be to drive change. As yet no plans to look at diversity of governance! Come on football leaders and government - step up and bring football into the 21st century https://lnkd.in/eytkF8mA

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⚽ Monday's meeting happens by the Premier League with the football club representatives on the issue of capping player's salaries. ✋ Out of 20, 16 football clubs agreed with the new regulation on capping the players' salary which will replace the current Premier League Profit & Sustainability Rules. 📣 Why the Premier League is pushing now for such regulation?! Click the post below to know more!! 👇 . . #sportslaw #playersalary #PremierLeague #ManCity #ManUnited #Chelsea #FootballLaw #KatheriaSportsLaw

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Well it’s been a whole year since the first FIFA exams. In 2023 the topic reached the courts, the news papers, TV and beyond. Several of the regulations were cast in doubt and challenged in court. So how did the recent exams go and what was the feedback, I deliberately left it late to see if people would be focusing on this area heavily. Well it seems most have moved on especially with the Euros, copa America, the transfer window and other major movements. I guess the logical questions are the following; So are we any better off? Have we seen the benefits? Is everyone in compliance? Is there harmony across the board? Also i must add, is the exam fair and filtering out the bad eggs or is it still keeping some of the good eggs away? This is how the last edition was reported on. I will update what and where this leaves us in the coming weeks and months. Also what next for those that have come into the fold, are you now in the land of milk and honey or has reality hit that this is not quite straight forward?

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Here is another insightful summary discussing the impact of UK immigration law in #football ⚽ #UKsports #football #sportssector #immigration #Ukimmigration

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With the excitement of the Euros and Wimbledon in the air, I bet there are so many people who want to benefit from the UK's opportunities for international sport! 🌍✨ If you're a sportsperson aiming to compete, coach, or work in the UK, the International Sportsperson Visa is your ticket to join the action. 🎯 Visa Overview: The International Sportsperson Visa is designed for elite athletes and qualified coaches who have made a significant contribution to their sport and wish to continue their journey in the UK. 📋 Eligibility Requirements: Endorsement: You must be endorsed by a recognized sports body, confirming your international recognition and contribution to your sport and have a qualifying job offer from a UK-based sponsor. 🇬🇧English Proficiency: Prove your ability to speak, read, write, and understand English at the required level. 💰Proof of Finances: To show you can support yourself in the UK. 🚀 Ready to Start Your Sporting Journey in the UK? Don’t miss this golden opportunity to bring your talents to one of the world’s top sporting nations! 📣 Reach out to explore your options on this or any UK immigration issue🇬🇧 #InternationalSportspersonVisa #UKSports #Euros #Wimbledon #VisaGuidance #SportsVisa #UKImmigration #clarityvisas

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Only one week left to apply for the SGA Bursary for Module 2 - Introduction to Sports Governance. Limited spaces are available on this module and time is running out so apply now before it's too late! Topics covered include: 🏞️ The sports governance landscape 🏗️ Sports organisations and governance structures in the UK 🧩 Approaches to sports governance ✍ Relevant legislation ⚠️ Applications close 7 November 2024 at 16:30 GMT ⚠️ Apply now: https://lnkd.in/eUKDrxCx #governance #sportsgovernance #sportsbiz

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The UK government has revealed key updates to the Football Governance Bill, significantly expanding the powers and remit of the proposed independent football regulator. Daniel Baker explores the changes which aim to protect the integrity of the game and fan interests. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eUi4-mX4 At Moore Barlow, our expert sports law team is here to guide clubs, stakeholders, and organisations through these evolving regulations. With a wealth of experience, we provide comprehensive support to protect your interests in this new era of football governance. Find out how we can help you navigate these changes: https://lnkd.in/eEPHEbXq #FootballGovernance #FootballRegulation #SportsLaw #MooreBarlow #PremierLeague #EFL

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In this article published in the FC Business magazine we look at the potential impact of recent UK immigration law changes on recruitment plans at English football clubs - in particular the increase in minimum salary thresholds for skilled workers. The changes won't have an impact on player recruitment - with separate rules governing the International Sportsperson visa - but they could be forcing some clubs to re-evaluate recruitment of wider support staff #immigration #football #skilledworker #globalmobility

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Earlier this week HMRC issued some 'guidelines' titled 'Help with football agents' fees and dual representation contracts'. I have prepared the article below with my initial thoughts on it. My overarching view is that whilst the guidelines provide some assistance to football clubs to better understand what HMRC's actual view of dual representation is - spoiler alert: they clearly don't like the arrangements in a football context despite them being perfectly permissible in other industries (for example Real Estate or Financial Services) - they don't go far enough in a number of respects. It also feels a little like HMRC perhaps may not fully understand the industry, particularly the role the agent plays in ensuring agreement can be reached between the parties (i.e. player and club). I am aware that a number of my professional peers will have commented on these guidelines before they were issued in final form, but it would be interesting to know if HMRC sought comments from the football industry itself (I would welcome a chat with anyone that did comment on these, particularly if they are within the football industry). #footballlaw #hmrc #tax #contentioustax #footballtax #footballagents #lawinsport Trevor Watkins Julian Diaz-Rainey https://lnkd.in/esRHP2MP

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Further to my article below, I am keen to obtain other views of the guidelines and I wondered if any of my contacts (or my contacts’ contacts) active within the football industry had any comments on the below - I would welcome replies to the below or via my DMs if preferred: 1. What are your thoughts on the guidelines? Do you consider them helpful? Would you have expected them to go further? 2. If you are within a football club, or represent a football club(s), was your organisation asked to comment on the guidelines? Would you have expected to have been? 3. Do you agree with HMRC’s view of dual representation contracts generally? Have they got anything wrong? 4. Do you agree with HMRC’s view that agents primarily act for players? 5. What is your view of HMRC’s position that payments to family members acting as agents might represent a inducement payments? #hmrc #footballtax #footballagents #taxlitigation #sportslaw #footballlaw Trevor Watkins Julian Diaz-Rainey

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The British Association for Sport and Law is pleased to announce that the 2024 BASL Masterclass Series will continue later in the year with a session in October on the Fallout of the European Super League decision, and a session in November on Legal issues specific to women’s sport. Speakers and dates for these two masterclasses will be announced in due course. #SportsLaw #BASL #BASLMasterclass #SportsLawMasterclass #EuropeanSuperLeauge #WomensSport

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⚽ This weekend marks the start of the 24/25 WSL season. Women's football is rapidly ascending in popularity, and the introduction of 'NewCo' ahead of this season is set to ensure it's continued success ⚽ At a time of quick growth and transition for the sport, it is important for insurers, governing bodies, clubs and other stakeholders to ensure they balance commercial aims with player welfare and safety. I've co-authored a piece with Spencer Turner of 12 King's Bench Walk highlighting some key legal and regulatory requirements, alongside insights into how to mitigate or avoid potential legal liabilities. #SportsLaw #LegalInsights #RiskManagement #WomensSport #WSL #WomensFootball

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Prioritise Clarity in Contracts | Proactively Manage Risk | Foster a Culture of Compliance Remember, the details you consider today will define the success of your venture tomorrow. #LetsGrowTogether #SportsLaw #LegalChallenges #SportsBusiness #RiskManagement #IntellectualProperty #Compliance #EthicsInSports #SportsConsulting #AGC

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Fab article from our sports tax specialist Ian about the new HMRC guidance on dual representation. The VAT position on this is obviously really interesting. Historic cases have been very fact specific with the Sports Invest FTT decision the most recent on a rather peculiar set of arrangements. Just generally, the VAT position regarding the recipient of the supply is always an interesting one. I've been looking at it recently in a joint retainer context and it does feel like VAT just doesn't have the tools to properly handle genuine ambiguity in dual or multiple recipient scenarios.

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Daniel and Kieran have devised a fantastic primer on the new spending cap to be implemented in The Premier League in the coming season. Most clubs have voted in favour of the same but there are a few dissenting voices (as usual). Breaking down this piece and the new Squad Cost Rules and Top-to-Bottom Anchoring Rules, a few pointers emerge: ⚽ 💹 1. Squad Cost Rules (Squad Rules): - Clubs can spend only 85% of their annual football-related income on player wages, transfer fees, and agent costs. - This aims to promote financial sustainability by preventing excessive spending. 2. Top to Bottom Anchoring Rules (Anchoring Rules): - Spending caps are tied to the revenue of the league’s least wealthy club. - Example: If Southampton’s revenue is £103.6m, all clubs would have a cap of £518m on their on-field costs. Impact and Implications: - Only Chelsea exceeded this cap in the 2022-2023 season, showing the cap might not significantly impact most clubs. - These rules could narrow the spending gap, potentially levelling the playing field. Reactions: - Not all clubs are on board. Manchester clubs and Aston Villa voted against these changes, and legal challenges might be on the horizon on the grounds of being 'anti-competitive'! - The PFA may resist these rules, arguing that they could suppress player earnings. The introduction of these rules signifies a major shift towards financial prudence in the Premier League. If implemented effectively, they could foster a more competitive and financially stable league. However, the complexity of adhering to multiple financial frameworks, especially for clubs involved in UEFA competitions, could be challenging. I am curious to see how these changes will play out and impact the league’s dynamics in the coming seasons. What are your thoughts on these new regulations? SHERIDANS | SPORT #PremierLeague #footballfinance

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FURTHER UPDATE Thankfully they saw sense: IFR Plans Paused https://lnkd.in/eaXDynqi FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE BILL UPDATE I’m hearing from multiple well-connected sources that the Football Governance Bill is likely to be nodded through without amendment during Parliamentary wash up. This is a terrible idea. Creating the world’s first independent football regulator is complex. I have voiced my scepticism about the whole idea but getting it wrong would be the worst result. The consequences could be catastrophic for the whole game. The legislation must be subject to detailed scrutiny. I have previously discussed some of the amendments that I consider are required (https://lnkd.in/ezvvz7qq). Many esteemed colleagues have also weighed in with why amendments are required. These should be given careful consideration. I hope that leadership on both sides of the House see sense and decline to rush the Bill through. Better it waits until the next Parliament, than to pass something that seriously damages the game.

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