The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court did not expect so much interest in antitrust proceedings. However, it is a process with a major impact on football and due to the high level of interest it has to be moved to a larger hall. Negotiations will later take place in the basement of the courthouse – the matter will be between player agents and the world football association FIFA – after all, this is a decision with global implications.
“Specifically, a specific set of regulations was adopted by FIFA at the end of 2022. Two player advisors personally, as well as a player advisory agency, have submitted applications for an injunction against this,” explains court spokeswoman Christina Klein Reesink.
The lower court had approved this, and FIFA then stopped its new set of rules for player agents – FFAR for short – worldwide at the end of 2023. The FFAR was intended, among other things, to disclose consultants’ income and cap commissions. For plaintiff and player agent Ralf Bockstedte this is incomprehensible: “FIFA thinks it has to limit our salary and I find that worrying!”
Consultants earned over 800 million euros in 2023
According to its own statement, the world football association is actually pursuing the goal of ensuring more transparency and control in the multi-million dollar brokerage market. According to a FIFA report, over 800 million euros went to player agents in international football in 2023 alone. But Ralf Bockstedte doesn’t accept that: “First of all, it also interferes with professional freedom and the free market. And I don’t know why a world association should have the right to put a cap on us!”
In the appeal proceedings in Düsseldorf, the presiding judge made it clear in his legal assessment that he did not know what the regional court did wrong in its assessment. The decision is to be announced on March 13th.
After the appointment, player agent Ralf Bockstedte is optimistic that the new FIFA regulations will remain suspended. Because FIFA simply wanted to determine that without involving the player agents: “When I see how FIFA deals with these issues, and so on, then I don’t have to worry that they are only looking for the positive, the well-being of the players , who has an eye on football!”