The European Football Agents Association (‘EFAA’) is a non-profit organisation which represents the collective interests of players’ agents in European professional football. In a bid to raise awareness of prevalent issues in the sport, EFAA has entered into a partnership with Mission 89 to acknowledge the consequences of trafficking in sport and play a part in combating it.

This joint venture focuses on education and the spread of information through Mission 89 social media. The campaign will run across all major social media platforms until 15 September. The objective is to educate young people on irregular migration and trafficking of minors in football. We spoke to EFAA Secretary General, Roberto Branco Martins, about EFAA’s goals for the future, and how a successful partnership could raise much needed awareness of trafficking in football.

“My official role is EFAA General Counsel,” he said. He came into this role almost 20 years ago after he conducted EU-wide research to find alternative platforms for regulating employment issues in the European professional football sector.

“I noticed that all individual actors in football, except the football agents, were gathered in an organisation that defended their collective interest. Together with leading agents, that notion led to the creation of EFAA.”

Martins describes the mission of EFAA as one that maintains professionalism and transparency in all the activities players’ agents undertake. “We do this by means of promoting an inclusive ‘agent’ voice in the international professional football sector,” he told us, “always in constructive collaboration with the established stakeholders.”

Q&A

Mission 89: How does EFAA support players agents?

Roberto Branco Martins: EFAA is an umbrella organisation of national agent associations. EFAA serves as the channeled voice for these individual associations and also for their individual members. EFAA has the experience and networks to assist in practically every element of agent activity [and] our members look for us for support.

M89: With globalization and the rapid commercialisation of football, how much has the landscape changed for player agents over the years?

RBM: The landscape has changed a lot due to the [over-]commercialisation of football. But the major changes are connected to the changes in the [framework of] regulation of players’ agents. The regulation needs to find a balance between the freedom of profession versus the necessary protection of vulnerable players and the need for transparency in payments in the transfer business. This leads to a struggle for legal certainty and that struggle remains a serious issue today.

M89: What do you think of the proposed agents’ regulations set by FIFA? And will it affect the way player agents work today?

RBM: EFAA believes that the current intentions will, overall, benefit the football agent industry. However, the regulations are not set in stone yet and for these principles to become regulations, some important steps towards consensus still need to be taken. EFAA is willing and able to assist FIFA and the stakeholders in any serious and well documented consultancy.

M89: In light of the proposed regulations, what are EFAA’s short- and long-term objectives?

RBM: Our objectives are always connected to our mission. Concrete, practical examples are a necessity for an international arbitration tribunal to efficiently solve international disputes; all while taking account of the specificity of the profession and a solid mechanism to guarantee that payments to, and representation by agents are not too far from the realistic agent activities. A set of rules needs to be simple and easy to follow and not leave open ends for forum shopping to circumvent the rules.

M89: The issue of trafficking of minors in football is a sensitive one, how high does EFAA rank the issue of football trafficking of minors in its agenda?

RBM: Very high. But EFAA realizes that it must work with other stakeholders to best combat this issue.

M89: What is EFAA doing to combat the trafficking of minors in football?

RBM: We have proudly engaged in approaching Mission 89 and look forward to actively communicating the objectives and outcomes of this project to our members and in doing so educate them where necessary about [trafficking].

M89: What role can EFAA play in combating the trafficking of minors in football?

RBM: We believe that we can create awareness among agents, football talents and their parents. It is important to know what an agent does, and even more importantly, what should NOT be the role of an agent. Many activities that are connected to child trafficking have nothing to do with how EFAA sees the portfolio of agent activities. Criminals that are involved in these type of crimes should not be placed under the scope of the definition of a players’ agent. EFAA wishes to bring this message across to its members and other relevant addressees.

M89: What advice would you give to young people out there who would like to pursue a career as a player agent?

RBM: Smell the sense of reality. Being a player agent is not what the media makes of it. You will not become a millionaire overnight and the chance that you will make a good living out of it is also very small. It is a tough industry and the ‘romantic’ idea troubles reality too much. Only start if you have enough skills and funds to make it for a while without running the risk of temptation to fall into dodgy alternatives in order to make ends meet.

M89: Which aspect of your work as EFAA Secretary General makes you the proudest?

RBM: The idea that, despite the stigma, we have been able to prove that we genuinely contributed to better standards in the international transfer business and that, in such a change, we have made our mark. It makes me proud to be part of such a process, focusing [specifically] on sport as a unifying and peaceful entity in the world, and to combat the wrongdoings that are a result of poor regulation and the over-commercialisation of football.

Follow Mission 89 on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter for more information about trafficking of minors in sport and our partnership with EFAA

The post Mission 89 X EFAA: The role of player’s agents in combating trafficking in football appeared first on Mission89.

So you made it. You’ve successfully completed a trial with a club and will be joining the lineup of players. All set to raise glasses with your family to toast to a successful footballing career. Congratulations, but wait.

There’s a contract to sign. Legal documents should ideally be looked over by legal personnel.

No lawyer? The European Football Agents Association have graciously provided some clauses to look out for in contract. The good vs the bad. It’s not a replacement for a lawyer; think of it as a handy guide to help you make sense of the legal stuff so you can make informed decisions.

GOOD CLAUSES:

APPOINTMENT

1. The Intermediary is appointed by the Player to provide services in the ___________ (state which market i.e. Australia/Global/Europe) market on the following terms:

–           provide mentoring and social media advice;

–           career guidance and training/development feedback;

–           in order to conclude a professional employment contract between the Player and a club;

–           training compensation advice;

–           advice on the FIFA regulations for Minors who want to transfer overseas;

–           advice on scholarships and academy programs and USA based college programs;

–           Passport advice;

–           conclude a renewal of the Player’s contract with their current club; and,

–           and to set up local and overseas trials.

REMUNERATION

2. Whilesoever during the Term of this Contract the Player is aged under eighteen (18) therefore a Minor, the Intermediary must not receive or accept any remuneration from or in connection with the Player. If the Player signs a professional contract when still a Minor which in negotiated by the intermediary, then any monies owed to the Intermediary (as agreed between the intermediary and the player and their parent/guardian in a separate binding letter which sets out the amount commission of …..%) shall be held in Trust and payable to the Intermediary after the player turns 18 years old. The Intermediary and the Player’s Guardian will mutually agree where this trust money shall be kept in what account and this shall be stipulated in the binding letter. When the Player turns 18 years of age, the Intermediary and the Player (and if required the guardian) agree to sign a new intermediary contract to cover the remainder of the professional club contract period negotiated by the intermediary when the player was under 18.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

3. (a) The Intermediary undertakes to safeguard the Player’s interests during the term of this Contract.

(b) The intermediary warrant’s that he complies with any working with young person’s checks if required by the Football Federation Australia.

TERMINATION

4. The Contract shall be automatically terminated with immediate effect if the Intermediary’s Registration with the Football Federation of Australia expires during the term of the Contract and the Intermediary does not renew his Registration within 14 days of being requested to do so in writing by the Player.

A representation contract with a Player over the age of 15, but under the age of 18, is terminable and a Player who is a Minor can terminate the contract by giving 1 months’ notice.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

5. At the age of 18 years at any ground at any time without the express permission of the Player’s parents and the Principal or a Principal’s representative and obtain a relevant clearance to enable them to work with children.

EVENTS

6 (1). Accredited Agents are not permitted to communicate with Players under the

18

(2) If permission to communicate with a Player is granted from the parents of the Player and the Principal, any discussions with the Player must be in the presence of the parents and/or guardian of the Player or the Principal and/or the Principal’s representative.

(3) At National School, Academy and Club Events and Activities, Accredited Player Agents who attend must follow the following protocols;

• Officially register with the host organising body on arrival;
• Accredited Agents will wear their identification tags visibly at all times;
• At the conclusion of events Accredited Agents are permitted to contact the Team Manager of a team where they have an interest in a particular player and provide their business card / contact details who will in turn provide them to the player.

(4) Accredited Agents who attend Football events may have contact with players who are under the age of 18 if the following protocols are observed:

• The Accredited Agent has written permission to approach the Player from the parents of the Player
• The Team Manager sights and endorses the written permission;
• The written permission is lodged with the host organising body at the official registration area (if applicable).

(5) If a Team Manager believes the communications between the Accredited Agent and the Player are not in the best interests of the Player he may at any time terminate the contact and report his concerns to the Secretary of the Committee (or representative) and to the parents of the student.

(6) Comply in all respects with such rules, protocols, directions and requests as are made by any National Federation with authority to administer or arrange junior, school and other competitions or matches, so far as those rules, protocols, directions or requests relate to the attendance or conduct of player agents at such competitions or matches.

(7) Any Accredited Agent who fails or refuses to follow the above protocols will risk forfeiting their entitlement to participate any further at that particular event, or other events in the future, if concerns are brought to the attention of the Secretary of the Committee (or representative) by either the Team Manager or the parents of the student and it is deemed that an investigation of the complaint should be carried out.

COMMUNICATION WITH PLAYERS WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS

7. An Accredited Agent, or any person on his or her behalf, must not, at any time, communicate with a Player who is under the age of 18 years, in person or by:

post, or telephone, or
text message, or electronic mail, or

using social networking websites (including Facebook.com and Twitter.com), or
any other means or form of communication,

without having previously obtained the written consent of the Player’s parent or guardian.

BAD CLAUSES

PERMISSION CLAUSES

The Minor assumes all risk associated with agreeing to this player representation agreement and agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless and fully and forever release and discharge the Agent from any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of actions, suits, controversies, obligations and liabilities of any kind and nature whatsoever relating to personal injury, contractual disputes or economic damage sustained directly or indirectly from the Agents conduct.

TERRITORY

The territory covered by this agreement is the world.

TERM

• 3 years’ x 3 years’ x 3 years
• This Agreement will continue until one party provides the other at least ninety (90= days’ notice in writing prior to the end of Initial Period or any subsequent four-year extension.

THE PLAYER’S WARRANTIES

During the Term throughout the Territory, the Player hereby warrants that:

• The Player will not enter into or execute any contract, document, arrangement or understanding relating to his activities, without prior consultation with the Manager;
• The Player has full authority to enter into and performs this Agreement and is not bound by any previous agreement which adversely affects this Agreement.
• The Player will not engage any other person or company to perform any of the duties to be performed by the Manager hereunder, nor will the Player delegate to any other person any of the powers delegated to the Manager without the Manager’s prior written consent; and
• The Player will refer to the Manager all engagement and contract enquiries and offers concerning the Player’s activities and will make full disclosure to the Manager of any contracts or arrangements relating to the Player’s activities which have not been initiated by the Manager.

TERMINATION 

No breach of this agreement is a material breach giving the other party the right to terminate unless:

• The party allegedly in breach is given written notice specifying the nature of the breach (this notice must be clearly headed “Breach of agreement-Notice to Cure); and
• The party receiving the notice fails to rectify the breach within 30 days of such notice.

TERMINATION

• The Manager may by notice in writing to the Player terminate this agreement upon a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Player provided that notice in writing of the matter constituting such breach is first given to the Player and such default is not rectified within thirty (30) days of service of such notice. Such termination will not prejudice any other actions legally available to the Manager.
• The Player may by notice in writing to the Manager terminate this agreement in the event that an application is made for the winding up of the Manager provided that such winding up application is not dismissed within forty five (45) days of service of any winding up application on the Manager.

Cet article est le fruit d’une collaboration entre Mission 89 et l’Association européenne des agents de football (AEAF) dans le cadre d’une campagne relative au mercato d’été.

Vous l’avez fait. Vous avez réussi à obtenir un essai avec un club et vous allez rejoindre le groupe des joueurs. Tout le monde est prêt à lever son verre au sein de la famille pour porter un toast votre réussite, à votre carrière de footballeur. Félicitations, mais attendez.

Il y a un contrat à signer. Idéalement, les documents juridiques devraient être examinés par le personnel juridique.

Pas d’avocat ? L’Association européenne des agents de football vous propose gracieusement quelques clauses à surveiller dans le contrat. Le bon contre le mauvais. Ce n’est pas un substitut à un avocat mais considérez que c’est un guide pratique pour vous aider à comprendre les aspects juridiques afin que vous puissiez prendre des décisions en connaissance de cause.

BONNES CLAUSES:

LES PARTIES

1. (nom, prénom et adresse de joueur, respectivement, pour les personnes morales: nom et adresse de l’entreprise, ainsi que nom et prénom de la/des personne/s qui agit/agissent pour elle)

Ci-après : l‘intermédiaire

L’intermédiaire est désigné par le joueur pour fournir des services sur le marché ___________ (indiquez le marché, c’est-à-dire Australie/Global/Europe) aux conditions suivantes :

– Fournir des services de mentorat et de conseil en matière de médias sociaux ;

– Orientation professionnelle et retour d’information sur la formation/le développement ;

– Afin de conclure un contrat de travail professionnel entre le joueur et un club ;

– Conseils en matière de rémunération de la formation ;

– Conseils sur le règlement de la FIFA pour les mineurs qui souhaitent être transférés à l’étranger ;

– Des conseils sur les bourses d’études et les programmes d’académie et les programmes universitaires basés aux États-Unis ;

– Conseils en matière de passeport ;

– Conclure un renouvellement du contrat du joueur avec son club actuel

– Mettre en place des procès locaux et à l’étranger.

RÉMUNERATION

2. Si, pendant la durée du présent contrat, le joueur est âgé de moins de dix-huit (18) ans et est donc mineur, l’intermédiaire ne doit recevoir ou accepter aucune rémunération de la part du joueur ou en relation avec lui. Si le joueur signe un contrat professionnel alors qu’il est encore mineur, négocié par l’intermédiaire, toutes les sommes dues à l’intermédiaire (comme convenu entre l’intermédiaire et le joueur et son parent/tuteur dans une lettre séparée qui fixe le montant de la commission de …%) seront détenues en fiducie et payables à l’intermédiaire après que le joueur ait atteint l’âge de 18 ans. L’intermédiaire et le tuteur du joueur conviendront mutuellement de l’endroit où cet argent sera conservé et du compte sur lequel il sera versé, ce qui sera stipulé dans la lettre d’engagement. Lorsque le joueur atteint l’âge de 18 ans, l’intermédiaire et le joueur (et si nécessaire le tuteur) conviennent de signer un nouveau contrat d’intermédiaire pour couvrir le reste de la période du contrat du club professionnel négocié par l’intermédiaire lorsque le joueur avait moins de 18 ans.

CONDITIONS GÉNÉRALES

3. (a) L’Intermédiaire s’engage à sauvegarder les intérêts du Joueur pendant la durée du présent Contrat.

(b) L’intermédiaire garantit qu’il se conforme à tout travail de contrôle des jeunes si la Fédération de football l’exige.

RÉSILIATION

4. Le contrat sera automatiquement résilié avec effet immédiat si l’enregistrement de l’intermédiaire auprès de la Fédération de football expire pendant la durée du contrat et si l’intermédiaire ne renouvelle pas son enregistrement dans les 14 jours suivant la demande écrite du joueur.

Un contrat de représentation avec un joueur âgé de plus de 15 ans, mais de moins de 18 ans, est résiliable et un joueur mineur peut résilier le contrat en donnant un préavis d’un mois. 

IMPLICATION DES PARENTS

5. A l’âge de 18 ans, sur n’importe quel terrain et à tout moment, sans l’autorisation expresse des parents du joueur et du directeur ou d’un représentant du directeur et obtenir une autorisation appropriée pour leur permettre de travailler avec des enfants.

LA COMMUNICATION AVEC LES JOUEURS ÂGÉS DE MOINS DE 18 ANS 

7. Un agent accrédité, ou toute personne agissant en son nom, ne doit à aucun moment communiquer avec un joueur âgé de moins de 18 ans, en personne ou par

courrier, ou téléphone, ou message textuel, ou courrier électronique, ou

l’utilisation de sites de réseaux sociaux (y compris Facebook.com et Twitter.com), ou de tout autre moyen ou forme de communication,

sans avoir obtenu au préalable le consentement écrit du parent ou du tuteur du joueur.

MAUVAISES CLAUSES

LES CLAUSES D’AUTORISATION

 Le mineur assume tous les risques liés à l’acceptation de cet accord de représentation des joueurs et accepte d’indemniser, de défendre et de dégager de toute responsabilité, ainsi que de libérer et de décharger entièrement et pour toujours l’agent de toutes les réclamations, demandes, actions, causes d’actions, poursuites, controverses, obligations et responsabilités de toute sorte et de toute nature relatives à des dommages corporels, des différends contractuels ou des dommages économiques subis directement ou indirectement du fait du comportement de l’agent.

TERRITOIRE

Le territoire couvert par cet accord est le monde.

TERME

(a) 3 ans x 3 ans x 3 ans

(b) Le présent accord se poursuit jusqu’à ce qu’une partie donne à l’autre un préavis écrit d’au moins quatre-vingt-dix (90= jours) avant la fin de la période initiale ou de toute prolongation ultérieure de quatre ans. 

LES GARANTIES DU JOUEUR  

Pendant la Durée du contrat sur l’ensemble du Territoire, le Joueur le garantit par la présente:

• Le Joueur ne conclura ou n’exécutera aucun contrat, document, arrangement ou accord relatif à ses activités, sans consultation préalable avec le Manager ;
• Le Joueur a toute autorité pour conclure et exécuter le présent accord et n’est pas lié par un accord antérieur qui affecte négativement le présent Accord.
• Le joueur n’engagera aucune autre personne ou société pour remplir les fonctions du Manager en vertu des présentes, et ne déléguera à aucune autre personne les pouvoirs délégués au Manager sans le consentement écrit préalable du Manager ; et
• Le joueur doit soumettre au Manager toutes les demandes et offres d’engagement et de contrat concernant les activités du joueur et doit divulguer au Manager tous les contrats ou arrangements relatifs aux activités du joueur qui n’ont pas été initiés par le Manager.

 RÉSILIATION

Aucune violation de cet accord n’est une violation matérielle donnant à l’autre partie le droit de résilier, sauf si :

1. a) la partie prétendument en infraction reçoive un avis écrit précisant la nature de l’infraction (cet avis doit être clairement intitulé “Violation de l’accord – Avis de remédier”) ; et
2. b) La partie qui reçoit l’avis ne corrige pas la violation dans les 30 jours suivant cet avis.

RÉSILIATION

(a) Le Manager peut, par notification écrite au Joueur, résilier le présent accord en cas de violation d’une disposition du présent accord par le Joueur, à condition qu’un avis écrit de l’affaire constituant cette violation soit d’abord donné au Joueur et que cette violation ne soit pas rectifiée dans les trente (30) jours suivant la notification de cet avis. Une telle résiliation ne portera pas préjudice aux autres actions dont dispose légalement le Manager.

(b) Le Joueur peut, par notification écrite au Manager, résilier le présent accord dans le cas où une demande de liquidation du Manager est faite, à condition que cette demande de liquidation ne soit pas rejetée dans les quarante-cinq (45) jours suivant la signification de toute demande de liquidation au Manager.

The post Good and Bad Clauses in a Football Contract appeared first on Mission89.

Matthew, who has served as an advisor to Mission 89 since 2018, now joins Ode Fulutudilu as the second sports figure to represent the organization as an Ambassador.

Once a victim of trafficking himself, Matthew has been a vital figure for Mission 89 in tackling child trafficking in and around sport. His inspiring story has raised awareness about the severity of trafficking of young athletes around the world. Currently, Matthew is the CEO of GEAP-F Media Ltd., operating ELEGBETE TV & RADIO on YouTube to tell stories of local coaches and players who are treated as superstars at home, even before they go abroad.

As Mission 89 Ambassador, Matthew will serve as a delegate of the organization by using his name, voice, and platform to reach young players vulnerable to trafficking, to raise awareness, and to fight against human trafficking in and around sport.

QUOTES

“We are so happy to officially announce Edafe Matthew Eseoghene as our ambassador. Matthew has been Mission 89’s companion since its establishment and has played an indispensable part in telling the reality of trafficking in sport to our associates and audiences. He is yet another shining personality we all look up towards, and together we can take another big step to mitigate the exploitation of young athletes.”

Lerina Bright – Executive Director, Mission 89

“It is an honour to be picked as an ambassador for such a brand that is committed to fighting a good fight. As someone who’s been a victim before, this has a personal touch for me.”

Edafe Matthew Eseoghene – CEO, GEAP-F Media Limited

QUICK FACTS

• At the age of 20, Matthew was a victim of trafficking in football and after being abandoned by an illegitimate football agent in Cape Verde for 11 months without a contract or any financial support.
• Since 2007, Matthew had worked as a sport analyst and journalist for Al Jazeera, HiTV and Brila FM.
• In 2014, Matthew was a commentator at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
• In 2017, Matthew started his own media company called GEAP-F Media Ltd., owners of ELEGBETE TV & RADIO on YouTube.

Mission 89 Ambassador Programme

The Mission 89 Ambassador Programme is a social influencing and community outreach initiative that uses the positive values of sport to raise awareness of human trafficking within the context of sport. The Ambassador role is assigned to high-profile personalities who have been thoroughly appraised and selected by the organization.

The post Edafe Matthew Eseoghene announced as Mission 89 Ambassador appeared first on Mission89.

In 2009, Michael Afolabi Sodeke became a player’s agent and since then he has been involved in sports promotion and development from grassroots to the professional level. In 2018, he played a leading role in repatriating 10 football trafficking victims who were scammed and left stranded in Cape Verde by a fake agent with the promise of a trial in Europe.

He is the C. E. O of Anfield-Lane Integrated Services, which includes Anfield-Lane Soccer School and Anfield-Lane Sports Promotion. Michael founded Football Intermediaries Association of Nigeria (FIAN), an association responsible for unifying all registered intermediaries in Nigeria. FIAN has recorded some major achievement under his leadership, highlights of which include affiliation with the European Football Agent Association (EFAA) and a campaign against human trafficking through football.

We had a chat with him on his role as a football agent and his thoughts on human trafficking in the name of sports.

Questions:

1. Why did you decide to become a football agent?
2. What do you like most and least about being an agent?
3. In your opinion what are the three characteristics of a good agent?
4. What are three things that young players and their parents should be aware of before signing a contract with an agent or agency?
5. It has been reported that up to 15,000 young footballers are trafficked out of West Africa annually (Poli, 2010) on false pretenses to play professionally in Europe. What do you make of this?
6. Do football agents have a role to play in safeguarding young players from exploitation?
7. What do you make of the new agents’ regulations set by FIFA? What would you like to see changing?
8. What education could be useful to agents to do their work even better?
9. Which aspect of your work as a football agent makes you the proudest?

The post Michael Sodeke on his role as a player’s agent appeared first on Mission89.

Ellen Chiwenga has been working in the world of football for more than 15 years, learning step by step all the aspects of the game, from grassroots football development to global business development and transfers. She is a FIFA Football Match Agent, as well as a member of the Association of Football Agents (AFA), the International Association of FIFA Licensed Football Match Agents (FIFMA), and Women in Football (WIF) from Zimbabwe.

Driven to create change in a male-dominated industry with the ambition to promote diversity and equality in the game, she is the only female Football Match Agent in England and the only female African Football Match Agent in the world. As part of her duties, Ellen legally represents athletes by checking their contracts and negotiating their employment. She is responsible for communication between the managers and individuals she represents to ensure that both sides are satisfied and also arranges international matches among teams belonging to different Confederations, such as friendly matches and tournaments between national teams or clubs.

Her work has been recognized with several awards. She was named Personality of the Year at the 2017 Zimbabwe Achievers Awards and the African Woman of the Year in Football in 2018. That same year, she became an Ambassador of FC Karachi in Pakistan. In August 2019, Ellen Chiwenga was appointed Global Goodwill Ambassador of Bring Hope Humanitarian Foundation (BHHF), a charity organisation that delivers humanitarian aid and medicines to internal displaced people, refugees, and people in need around the world. In November 2019, Ellen received the prestigious Football Black List Award for her outstanding work in football. She is a member of the ‘Right to Play’ Partnerships Committee and in January 2020 was awarded the Medal of Knight of the Order of Lafayette. In May 2020, Ellen became advisor at FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch (FERW). Earlier this year, Ellen Chiwenga announced her intention to run for the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) presidency in the 2022 election.

We had a chat with her on her role as a football agent.

Why did you decide to become a football agent?

I grew up in Zimbabwe hearing about football all the time as my two uncles were working with clubs and the football association. Above all, I love football because of its power to inspire and drive change in the lives of boys and girls. When I moved to the UK, my own experience taught me how difficult it can be for a young person to adapt to a new environment, sometimes in a totally different country. This is how why I decided to become an agent. I like to take care of players because I know that my daily work has an impact on their wellbeing. By helping them adapt and feel well in the club and mentally, I make sure that they deliver great performances on the pitch. Football is the science of people and I like these interactions, not just with the player but with the clubs’ staff, other agents, the community and the fans.

Which aspect of your work as a football agent makes you the proudest?

Managing a player is like being a mother taking care of her child. I like to see them grow as individuals, and flourish as players. There is often a lot of expectations from the fans and media, as well as large sums involved in transfers at a young age. It is not always easy for players to resist the pressure and make sense of all this. There are countless stories of great talents who never fulfill their potential. Therefore, it is a source of pride to see one of your players developing into a nice, confident and respectful individual with good values that will guide them for a lifetime. Also, to see young boys and girls make their dreams come true as professional players after years of hard work, commitment and sacrifice fills me with tremendous joy for them and their family.

What are some of the misconceptions about football agents?

One of the biggest misconceptions in the public and media is that football agents exploit the system and make a lot of money on transfers. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Agents are a key part of the football ecosystem. They are ambassadors who detect talents, promote and advise players, facilitate discussions with clubs, and help them find the best opportunities. People take a partial view based on the very few top agents who negotiate the transfers of world-class players. They merely represent the top of the iceberg and reality is that many agents struggle to make a decent living with players in lower divisions and smaller clubs. Also, there is no magic formula to be certain that a young talented player will sign a professional contract in the future. This is a risk that the agent has to take. What many people also forget is that an agent doesn’t just come and go after taking a commission on transfers. An agent continues to take care of his/her player after the transfer, and this is a 24/7 job.

What advantages does a female agent have in an industry that is dominated by men?

Speaking about my own experience, I would say that a woman football agent takes a different perspective, more long-term and comprehensive than men. While most men would focus in details on the qualities of a player – statistics, technical skills, strength, speed, stamina, etc. – I like to engage with the player and discuss topics such as which position he prefers, the system he feels more comfortable with, or what type of coach he likes. Regarding potential transfers, we discuss elements like the city, the region, the teammates, and if he thinks he would fit into the culture of the club. I know that the living and working environment is very important for the development of a player, for him to strive in his new club, so we take the time to address all these topics. A man might not take the same approach.

In your opinion, do you think that the majority of agents are aware of the issue of human trafficking in football? If yes, then why do you think human trafficking continues in football? If no, why not? What could be done to improve awareness among agents?

We have all heard the sad stories of human trafficking in football and how so-called ‘agents’ are taking advantage of impoverished families and children in developing countries by luring them with false promises of lucrative careers abroad. However, most agents working with professional clubs in the top leagues of Western countries only see the faces of the young players who have signed or are about to sign their first professional contract. The problem of human trafficking in football has to be tackled directly at the source, in countries where poverty leads many families to believe the narrative of corrupted individuals. It is worth noting that those individuals are not ‘agents’, since official agents are required to be registered by their Football Association (FA) and go through police check if working with minors. Therefore, it is the role of governments, municipalities, Ministries of Sports, and Football Associations in developing countries to lead the charge against human trafficking in football by educating local populations about this danger. FIFA also has a large role to play by initiating an international campaign on the subject, and by making sure that part of the funds it sends to the FAs of poor countries is used to fight against this global issue.

What role can football agents play in preventing the trafficking of young footballers?

Whenever they travel to less developed countries and poorer areas of the world in order to scout potential players for clubs, agents should take the opportunity to speak with local club managers, football academies staff, and football authorities about this important subject. They should also raise this matter with coaches and make sure that their message is relayed to the kids, and even better, their parents. Together with their FAs, football agents could work to produce information leaflets and stickers that could be distributed to the relevant populations at home and during their trips. Education and knowledge are the first powerful barrier to eradicate trafficking.

Are there any special considerations for female football players who sign with agents? Are any specific measures taken to safeguard them from exploitation?

Females are more vulnerable, and with the growth of the women’s football across the globe – which is a great improvement – it will also become more dangerous. Unscrupulous individuals will try to take advantage of the situation by luring young girls with tales of riches with a football club in Europe, the US or China. The first line of defense is the family. With more girls around the world attracted by the passion of football, it is important for the parents and family to acknowledge it and support them in their journey. Taking interest, asking questions, attending training and watching games is the surest way to understand who is evolving around your daughter and take action to prevent any kind of exploitation before it happens.

What do you make of the new agents’ regulations set by FIFA? What would you like to see changing?

I strongly welcome the decision of FIFA to reintroduce the mandatory licensing system for agents. Having had literally anyone being able to act as agent for players did nothing good for the game, and makes me wonder why it was abandoned in the first place. This will raise professional standards, and bring more transparency with the creation of a FIFA Clearing House. Regarding the more sensitive issue of a cap on commissions, I believe that the market is always better regulated by itself. Temptations to distort, in any sector, the natural equilibrium of the market always create unintended externalities and incentives for some actors to get around the legislation, which is exactly what everyone wants to avoid. But overall, the return of the licensing system represents a great opportunity to inform and educate agents about the issue of human trafficking and the risk of exploitation by fake agents at grassroots level.

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The progress shown by African national teams in international competitions since the 1990s as well as the outstanding careers of African football icons such as Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Nwankwo Kanu, to name a few, has fueled the desire of thousands of young West Africans to try to make it to “the top”.

While some footballers have been able to follow in their more famous predecessors’ footsteps, a disturbing by-product of this fascination with Europe’s football leagues has also been on the rise. This worrying phenomenon is known as “football trafficking” – for a more comprehensive definition of the term, see Esson and Drywood (2018).

The growth of African football has not gone unobserved. This has triggered a reaction, some clubs have been looking out for younger and younger “raw” talents to be “purchased” at a low cost, with the hope of turning them into established players to be sold at a higher price thus generating a big profit. On the other hand, the number of aspiring footballers craving to pursue a professional career in European football has also dramatically increased. Unfortunately, this demand and supply situation has created thriving grounds for exploitation of young talent.

Alarmed by the “race to young talent”, national and international institutions and sports governing bodies have taken restrictive measures. For example, FIFA introduced Article 19 of its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which states that international transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18, unless their parents move to the country in which the new club is located for reasons unrelated to football, the player is aged at least 16 and the transfer happens within the European Union or the player lives no further than 50km from a national border and the club with which the player wishes to be registered in the neighbouring association is also within 50km of that border.

The goal of Article 19 is to put a limit to the frequent cases of fraud and abandonment linked with the movement of underage players as outlined in the “10 step guide to football trafficking” (Esson 2015).

Playing football at the best possible stage – Europe – per se is not the only motivation drawing large numbers of would-be footballers from the Global South. Research conducted on over 100 underage Ghanaian footballers revealed that they viewed migrating to a well-paid European league, where a player would get the maximum return on their ability, as the embodiment of self-reliance and entrepreneurialism (Esson and Drywood: 2018).

In other words, football is seen as a way of improving families’ social and economic status, a situation that is mostly perceived as impossible to achieve by staying in the country of origin.

Global South to North migration does not only pertain to football, although research in other sports is lacking.

With the aim to finding a way to balance two fundamental principles of the Convention on the Right of the Child, i.e adherence to the best interests of the child and the child’s right to participate in decisions regarding their future, further research into the migration of youth related to sports is needed as well raising the awareness of all the players involved, two activities in which Mission 89 has always been fully engaged in order to tackle the issue of the exploitation of young athletes.

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But wherever there are ambitions and aspirations there are also ruthless individuals ready to exploit those young dreamers. They claim to be football agents with contacts in Europe, approach kids who dream to play in Europe and ask for money from them or their family with the promise that they will arrange the documents needed and a trial at a professional club. However, when the youngster reaches the destination, if they do, the trial does not happen and, in the worst case scenario, the player is abandoned.

In other cases, the scammer keeps the money and disappears even before the journey to Europe takes place, as Daniel Saleh Iko, a 19-year-old Nigerian footballer, learnt the hard way. He has courageously decided to share his unfortunate experience with Mission 89 in this interview.

“I come from Kogi State, a central region of Nigeria, and have always wanted to become a footballer. I’ve played for local professional teams and I’m still playing and training hard as I don’t want to give up on my dream.

Not long ago, a man who claimed to have contacts in European football approached me saying that I was too good for the league where I’m playing. He added I should consider moving to a more ambitious stage. He said if I or my family had managed to put together about $ 3,500 for the expenses needed, he would provide me with some good opportunities to play professionally in Europe”

Fortunately for Daniel, soon afterwards he met trafficking survivor & Mission 89 Ambassador Matthew Edafe, who gave him some advise.  

Talking to Matthew helped me open my eyes. First of all he gave me a lot of encouragement and support. Then he made me understand the reality of that offer. He explained to me that when a real agent sees talent in a player, and if he really believes in that talent, he will be ready to invest rather than asking for money in advance because he’s confident that one day, when a proper contract is signed, he will get his own commission from the club. On the contrary, somebody bragging to have contacts at high level  in professional football and wanting to be given money even before a contract or a trial in Europe was not to be trusted.

In this instance, Daniel managed to keep the fake agent at bay but he had been less successful on another occasion two years earlier.

I was only 17 and all I wanted to do was to have a chance, so when a man promised he’d give me a chance to play for Newcastle United, I wanted to grab it. He was also asking for $ 2,000. My family managed to borrow that amount by asking several people if they could lend us some money. The idea was that if I had been able to play in Europe I definitely would have been able to pay back the loan and also support my sister who is still studying… But unfortunately it was a scam, and, while we lost all that money, I never had the opportunity to move to England.

It was a hard blow, both financially and psychologically.

It was such a bad moment for me and my family as it made our financial situation even shakier than it already was. I was so desperate I even attempted to take my own life and even now, when I think about it, I get frustrated and end up crying. But I don’t want to give up and I am going to train as hard as I can to make it to the top.

Thanks to Daniel, for speaking up. Painful as sharing this experience may have been, we are hopeful that through this, other young aspiring footballers will learn and make informed decisions about their career in and out of football.

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The pretense of a professional career in sport is being used by unscrupulous individuals and fake agents to recruit young men and women into an underworld of illegal migration and crime, resulting in serious breaches of human rights.

The illustrious human rights advocate and lawyer Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, currently serving as the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children, has been relentless in her fight against the discrimination and violence of the most vulnerable groups, and has over the years been active in promoting children’s rights.

In her recent report, prepared pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolutions 7/13 and 34/16, the Special Rapporteur included a thematic study on the sale and sexual exploitation of children in the context of sports.

We caught up with her to talk about the role of the Special Rapporteur, actions that can be taken to combat trafficking in sports, and the opportunities and threats facing the flourishing women’s football.

1. Few people outside the United Nations system are familiar with the role of the “Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children” Could you please tell us what this entails, and how one becomes a “Special Rapporteur”?

The role of the UNSR is to assist States in putting an end to these heinous crimes by identifying new patterns of abuse and exploitation and making recommendations on strategies and measures on prevention, accountability of criminals and aspects relating to the rehabilitation and recovery of victims. Country visits, thematic studies and communicating concerns to Governments about concrete cases are amongst the primary working tools.

The target audience is not only Governments, but also the private sector, and society at large, all of whom can be game changers. As mandate holder, I want to ensure that children are actively involved and participate in the design and monitoring of protection strategies and that their views are taken into account.

Becoming a SR is in the first place a question of choice, of passion and the belief that contributing to increased awareness of the prevalence of these scourges and how it should be eradicated can make a difference in the lives of millions of children. UN SR’s are independent experts, not part of the UN hierarchy, are unremunerated and therefore entirely independent in their judgment and actions.

Decisions to appoint SR’s are taken by the Human Rights Council of the UN, on the basis of demonstrated knowledge and commitment. The Mandate of a UNSR is 3 years, renewable only once. I was appointed in 2014, so I will end my mandate next year.

2. You have worked many years in the field of human rights and have been a strong advocate for the wellbeing of children and the protection of their rights. What would you consider to be the highlight of your career so far?

The first was when as a lawyer I was working on cases in the European Court of Human Rights. I dealt with a case of a child victim of sexual abuse, who under national law was powerless to ensure the conviction of her rapist, moreover a member of her family. Thanks to the development of the concept of “positive obligations”, to which I contributed, the State could no longer hide behind existing legislation and needed to be pro-active to ensure the criminal’s accountability by changing the legislation!

The second was as Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe when the Council of Europe’s Convention on the protection of children and Sexual abuse was adopted and opened for signature in Lanzarote in 2007. I had worked so hard to make this happen, together with an incredibly committed team, and seeing Governments put their signature under these far reaching and promising safeguards was a real highlight.

But highlights in this area are not necessarily only positive experiences. Some encounters are indelible in my memory. As UN SR I met disabled children in institutions, tied to their beds for lack of trained staff, a young migrant football player stuck in a legal and factual limbo, a child victim of sexual violence whose personality appeared to be shattered forever.

3. As Special Rapporteur you are mandated to report on a specific topic. What made you decide to focus your research on the subject of, “Protecting children from sale and sexual exploitation in the context of sports”?

Again in my career as a lawyer working for the European Court of Human Rights, I had dealt with a case denouncing the transfer mechanism of young football players as amounting to a form of slavery. Also, I am aware that sexual abuse occurs in every setting, and that sports clubs are no exceptions. Because of the power imbalance between coaches and young athletes the latter are particularly vulnerable. I felt it was important to explore more in depth the root factors and to help all concerned actors to develop responses and prevention mechanisms to deal with these human rights violations.

Egyptian children play soccer on a dusty field in Cairo, Egypt January 8, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh – RC117767B380

4. In recent years the world has come to learn of the level of sexual, emotional and physical abuse elite athletes face during their careers, but the illegal movement of children in pursuit of a career in sport is a neglected issue, despite “the State duty to protect human rights; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights,” as quoted from comma 28 of your report. Why do you think it hasn’t yet been given any similar attention so far?

Traditionally, human rights violations are the ones for which States can be held directly accountable. Corporate social responsibility in this context is relatively new. It has been developed in the UN through the adoption of Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, calling on the private sector to adopt additional analogous standards where their activity could adversely impact certain groups of persons. Excessive reliance on the concept of autonomy and specificity has sometimes blurred this responsibility in the sports sector.

5. In carrying out your research, what information most surprised or challenged your understanding of the trafficking in sport phenomenon?

As often in this area of child abuse and exploitation, the very large sums of money involved, that provide a source of profit to those who sell or traffic children, make counter measures challenging.

In the world of football 17.6 % of international transfers of children are made through intermediaries. The system of third party ownership totally commodifies the players, who have no power over their own fate.

6. The FIFA Women’s World Cup just ended in France, what opportunities on one hand and threats on the other can we anticipate with the growing women’s game?

It was a great opportunity to witness top level sportswomen show their talents and perseverance.  It was an opportunity to do away with society’s bias and prejudice against women in the world of football which is still predominantly male and macho. Gender discrimination is still omnipresent in sports institutions especially at governance level. That includes the referees. Of course gender discrimination is still pervasive in society, and those who do not want to acknowledge the power of women and even their role in sports will continue to be there. But I bet you, there were many men in the galleries who can be multipliers in the advancement of the cause of women. Sport has no gender!

7. Following the release of your report do you envisage the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to develop any actions with the aim of raising awareness of, and preventing human trafficking in sports?

The OHCHR has a general work stream on trafficking and has increased its focus on human rights and sports through for example its involvement in the Centre for Sports and Human Rights.

8. As can be read in your report, with reference to the sale and sexual exploitation of children in the context of sport, you “look forward to be able to organize further consultations on this important subject.” Which national and international institutions and organizations – even non-governmental – do you think should collaborate and join forces in order to tackle the issue of human trafficking in sports?

Obviously, this is an area which all sports institutions should take very seriously. I hope to continue to work with major international Federations such as UEFA and FIFA but also in other sports’ sectors.  The other important stakeholder is the IOC, as I want to ensure that respecting and protecting the Rights of the Child are integral part of the bidding process for future host cities.

I will continue to join forces with the recently created Center for Sports and Human Rights, under the inspiring leadership of Mary Healy, whose mission includes the human rights of child athletes. We will make sure that children are unbeatable!

This article is part of a series of interviews conducted by Mission89 on child trafficking in football with key sports administrators, personalities, academics and educators.

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The Mirror quoted FIFA’s former head of security, ex-Interpol agent Chris Eaton, who said: “There are thousands of African ­children and youths tricked and even trafficked to European countries.

“They are all being attracted by the Premier League. English clubs have launched campaigns to stop this sort of crime, but it has not been matched by the Confederation of African Football or FIFA.

“They are failing in their moral duty. They talk about the dream, but so often the dream turns into a nightmare.”

The report referred to an investigation into a Paris-based passport forger whose fake documents were found on a player who moved from Mali to France,  who  was promised trials at one of Europe’s top clubs.

The young player was trafficked overland to Paris by Lebanese smugglers where he discovered the promise was a scam and was left unable to pay for a trip back home. Investigators who picked him up found jewellery and mobile phones on him, suggesting he had been forced into slavery for a criminal network.

Mission 89’s Matthew Hall is quoted in the report:  “This is football’s dirty little secret.”

“It’s as simple as a man turning up in an African village wearing a white linen suit and promising a professional career.

“Quite often it never materialises and these people are left abandoned.”

Read the full Sunday Mirror report by clicking here.

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The Mission 89 educational programs were implemented in workshops that used sport to empower future community leaders with skills that can be transferred into their daily lives.

The workshop, held over three days, was attended by 50 young men and women from 13 different Internally Displaced Persons [IDP] camps and five states across Sudan.

Mission 89 presented a cooperative, team-building, and decision-making toolkit delivered by Margaret Belewa, Mission 89 Program Manager, to participants that took into consideration the political and cultural context of a region that has been heavily impacted by many years of conflict.

Participants at Mission 89’s education program in Darfur as part of the Save The Dream festival.

Participants were trained on creating “safe spaces” for events and sustainable projects within their communities. This was done through facilitation on the development of a child protection policy and code of conduct and within the framework of 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC].

Workshop participants also included Kenyan long distance runner and Save the Dream ambassador, Tegla Loroupe, Sudan football hero Abdul Aziz Zakariya, and former Qatar national team goalkeeper, Ali Fouad.

“Educating young people through sport and the framework of the UNCRC is a powerful tool,” said Lerina Bright, Executive Director of Mission 89.

“Vulnerable young people can easily be exploited and abused and fall prey to people with bad intentions. Mission 89 aims to empower young people with the tools to make informed decisions about their futures and Darfur Dreams Initiative was an excellent platform to do this. Thanks to Save the Dream for asking Mission 89 to be a part of this project and for their vision in developing this initiative.”

Mission 89 education programs held during the Darfur Dreams Initiative.

The workshop was part of the Save The Dream festival that included football matches between local communities represented by teams from Abu Shouk, Zamzam, and Salam IDP camps. The festival, held at El Fashir Stadium, was attended by approximately 23,000 members of the public, national and local government officials, dignitaries, and international personalities.

“A displaced person lives in a very difficult, insecure condition and trusts nobody,” explained Mission 89’s Margaret Belewa. “Idleness and hopelessness leads to vulnerability and an opportunity to be easily exploited. Learning new skills is a challenge because levels of concentration is low. Mission 89’s training methodology of using games makes training fun. Life skills, trust, bonding, and team work can be built with a game in less than two hours. This was proven in North Darfur this July.”

The workshop prompted a positive response on social media.

“Amazing program connecting young leaders from around the world to advance peace and coexistence,” wrote Facebook user Alawia Yahia.

Mission 89 education programs took place for IDPs in Darfur in July.

Darfur Dreams Initiative saw Mission 89 partner with Aspire Academy and Save the Dream Foundation. The event was funded by Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Charity and was supported at the local level by the Sudanese Sport Organization for Peace and Development.

“Save the Dream and partners like Mission 89 will always do their best to contribute to the development of sport and sport for peace programs in Darfur,” said Massimiliano Montanari, Executive Director of Save the Dream. “I am very delighted by the decision of our main partners, Qatar Fund and Qatar Charity, to support the establishment of 40 sport centers in the region. This is extremely important since it demonstrates the determination of our coalition to make a real change in Darfur, at all levels, and to set the basis for future activities.”

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