UEFA Submits Request To FIFA To Ban Third-Party Ownership Of Players

UEFA "wants to ban the sale of player transfer rights to third parties," according to SPIEGEL ONLINE. The transfer rights of a player "should stay with his club and nobody else." UEFA "has submitted a corresponding request with FIFA." UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said, "We all know that third-party ownership of players bears many dangers. It is time to regulate it and take a clear stance on the issue." Should FIFA not take appropriate steps, UEFA wants to implement a regulatory framework for its own competitions. Infantino said, "In that case, a transitional period of three to four seasons would apply." Currently, advisers, agencies or investors can purchase rights to individual players (SPIEGEL ONLINE, 12/6). REUTERS noted "the practice is banned in England, France and Poland but allowed in many other countries." It is "especially prevalent in Brazil" (REUTERS, 12/6).