Gareth Bale’s agent ready to take FIFA to court over fees

Gareth Bale’s agent is prepared to take FIFA to court over plans to cap the fees paid to intermediaries.

The Times has reported that Jonathan Barnett and other so-called “super-agents” will take legal action after last month’s confirmation that Fifa will aim to cap agents’ commissions at 10 per cent of the transfer fee and oblige them to disclose a full list of their clients.

Barnett, the founder of the Stellar Group, said that “absolutely” agents would try to block the planned reforms by football’s governing body in the courts.

More than £263 million was paid out to agents by Premier League clubs during 2019-20 but Barnett insisted they provided value for money.

He told the Times: “It’s the principle, limiting the fees is one dot on a whole list of things wrong with those proposals.

“We will stop illegal rules, anti-trust rules, we will not to be told what to do by people in Fifa, which has a worse reputation than anybody’s.”

 

‘Fees’

Barnett and other leading agents including have set up a group called the Football Forum to oppose Fifa’s plans, and any form of salary cap for players.

Other agents involved in the group include Cristiano Ronaldo’s representative Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola who as Manchester United’s Paul Pogba on his roster.

Barnett added: “I agree there should be better controls, I’m 100 per cent in favour of that — proper licensing, agents properly trained with a proper exam, as to look after a player is a great responsibility.”