Third-Party Ownership Of Football Players

Online, January 11, 2014 (Newswire.com) - The vast majority of sports have become a billion-dollar businesses. This is reflected in various professional sectors (legal, financial, marketing, media, etc.). Sometimes an outside observer may think that the greatest challenges for those in charge are restricted to the playing field and improving the teams. In fact, the reality of the industry has shown that the greatest challenges—and secrecy—take place far from the fields and sport court. This book discusses one of the most powerful tools used by football clubs to face the increasing financial demands. The author is a lawyer and has participated in hundreds of negotiations worldwide involving economic rights.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction: A brief overview of the football business 2. Some definitions of third-party ownership 3. Rules about third-party ownership in football associations 3.1 FIFA 3.2 UEFA 3.3 National Associations and Leagues 4. What the main actors in the football market think about third-party ownership 4.1 FIFA 4.2 UEFA 4.3 FIFPro 4.4 Court of Arbitration for Sport 5. Main arguments about third-party ownership: pro and contra 5.1 Moral arguments 5.1.1 Human rights 5.1.2 Integrity of sports competitions 5.1.3 Money laundering 5.2 Economic arguments 5.2.1 Money inside the football world 5.2.2 Help for small and medium clubs 5.3 5.3 Sports-related arguments 5.4 Legal arguments 6. Practical guide for clubs on third-party ownership 7. Conclusion 1. Introduction: A brief overview of the football business The vast majority of sports have become a billion-dollar businesses. This is reflected in various professional sectors (legal, financial, marketing, media, etc.). Sometimes an outside observer may think that the greatest challenges for those in charge are restricted to the playing field and improving the teams. In fact, the reality of the industry has shown that the greatest challenges—and secrecy—take place far from the fields and sport courts. The event that engages the most values and media attention is the Olympic Games. The London summer games of 2012 cost $2,578,200,000.00 (US) in television rights alone. An historical analysis of changing values and audiences clearly shows the growth of the sport as a worldwide business. Football is the most popular sport in the world. In some countries, it is a family tradition to support a particular club, while other clubs carry a political or religious identity. Cities and regions are still economically dependent on the success of the local football club. There are various football competitions engaging the interest of the general population at local, regional, national, and international levels. The clubs play each other at all levels, and in theory everyone can experience a day in the FIFA Club World Cup, regardless of which division they are playing within the National Federation. The sport also has the ability to create idols and heroes of its players, which can have both a positive and a negative impact on young players. These star athletes, famous worldwide, periodically confront each other in continental and World Cups that collect billions more for National Federations, Confederations, and the International Federation. For example, the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa in 2010 brought in $3,655,000,000.00 (US) … and that's excluding ticket revenue!

Marcelo Robalinho is a lawyer, with a Bachelor's degree from University of São Paulo - Largo do São Francisco, the most prestigious Law College in South America. Also have a Master´s degree in Sports Law from University of Neuchâtel, in cooperation with the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES/FIFA). The author is partner of a Brazilian Law firm "Robalinho Alves Advogados" and partner in "Think Ball & Sports Consulting", one of the biggest football players´ agencies in South America and Denmark, with clients around the world.