What is the role of a football agent? We hear on the news about agents involved in transfer negotiations between clubs and players, but what exactly do they do and how do they operate in relation to FIFA, football's international governing body. Antitrust and competition lawyer, Matt Scott, joins Rithik to discuss FIFA's new regulations on football agents and some of the key areas of controversy.

FIFA has a long and convoluted history of regulating football agents spanning nearly 30 years, with regulations published in 2008 and 2015. A new set of regulations on football agents (the FIFA Football Agent Regulations) will come into force on 1 October 2023. What are the key provisions? What is the cap on agents’ commissions? How will the new regulations and any fall-out impact clubs, players and agents?

The UK Government recently published a White Paper, A sustainable future - reforming club football governance, to ensure the industry remains resilient and competitive for the future. We invite Albert Weatherill, a partner in our financial services regulation team, to discuss the reforms, looking at the comparison and similarities to broader financial services regulation. Although just a starting point, the report will give football clubs a lot to think about, and they will be keeping a close eye on proceedings as they develop. How will clubs need to adapt to satisfy conditions of the proposed licensing arrangements? How will club owners be assessed, and will current owners need to adjust to pass the new fit and proper person test retrospectively, under the new rules?

Have you ever wondered how people go about buying a football club? Or what happens when a football club gets put up for sale? Manchester United and Liverpool are up for sale, Chelsea changed hands last year, Newcastle, Southampton and Bournemouth not long before that. And why stop at one club, when you can have different clubs in different countries with a multi-club ownership model?