The FFAR establishes the “Client pays principle” (cf. art. 14). In short, only the Client that has engaged a Football Agent to provide Football Agent Services pays the service fee for the work undertaken. That means that if a Football Agent is representing, for example, a player or coach in their contract negotiation with a club, the player or coach must pay the applicable service fee. It is prohibited for the employer, e.g. a club, to pay the service fee on behalf of the player or coach.
Example:
- Ricardo is a Football Agent representing Sana, a professional player. Ricardo assisted her in signing an employment contract with Strikers FC. Every quarter, he sends her an invoice to pay him the service fee for the negotiated contract as per the Representation Agreement. Sana checks the invoice and pays the service fee from her own account.
- AFC Ball is interested in signing Nacho as a new player, whose Football Agent is Walter. Walter and Nacho request that AFC Ball pay the Remuneration to Nacho in full on top of paying the service fee to Walter. The club representatives reject the request as it would be in breach of the FFAR; Nacho should pay the service to Walter.
