Russian FA Urges Its Premier League Clubs To Steer Clear From Soliciting Agents

The Russian FA, also know as the Russian Football Union, "is urging Premier League clubs to refrain from soliciting agents in an attempt to help poorly funded sides avoid unnecessary outlays," according to R-SPORT. When players switch clubs in Russia, their agents "often receive payments from both their clients and the teams in a controversial practice known as double representation." The Russian FA said on its website, "The RFU recommends a termination of agreements between clubs and football agents if there is no significant, reasonably justified or extraordinary reason to continue them. The RFU considers the use of football agents by Russian football clubs economically unjustified and bereft of any commercial aim." Double representation "is also thought to encourage corruption, with officials quietly taking a certain percentage of the agent's artificially high fee" (R-SPORT, 3/27).