February 6 – Spain and Portugal have reportedly filed a complaint to the European Commission challenging FIFA’s ban on third party ownership.
FIFA is planning to outlaw the practise from May (except for current deals) and according to Bloomberg Spanish and Portuguese league officials travelled to Brussels to formally make their protest and are being supported by Jean-Louis Dupont, the lawyer who played a leading role in bringing about the Bosman ruling of the mid-1990s.
TPO is widespread in South America but also exists in parts of Europe where part-ownership of players by investors outside the game is considered routine procedure to help boost the cash resources of clubs.
Portuguese football agent Jorge Mendes (pictured), one of the most powerful members of his profession, this week fiercely defended TPO in an interview with the BBC, dismissing plans to ban it as “illegal” due to restraint of trade and saying getting rid of it would be potentially “catastrophic” in terms of wrecking the competitive nature of the game.
Mendes is involved in a number of investment funds that hold and buy up player commercial rights. The counter argument to Mendes is that infact TPO distorts the football landscape and especially the market for players as investor financial interest potentially puts shareholders before the interest of the players, clubs and the sporting integrity of the game.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734921295labto1734921295ofdlr1734921295owedi1734921295sni@w1734921295ahsra1734921295w.wer1734921295dna1734921295