Sports agents face tribunal probe

THE Competition Commission said yesterday it has referred the SA Football Intermediaries Association (Safia) and 36 of its members to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution in relation to alleged fixing of prices and trading conditions.

The Commission began to investigate after‚ in May 2015‚ the SA Football Association (Safa)‚ acting on instructions of Fifa‚ sought to regulate the affairs of football agents‚ including to reduce the 10% commission to 3%. Safia blocked this attempt through a court interdict.

In July 2015‚ the Commission received a complaint from Safia against Safa. Safia alleged that the 3% cap introduced by Safa constitutes fixing of an agent’s fee in contravention of the Competition Act.

“Following an investigation‚ the Commission decided not to prosecute Safa. Instead‚ the Commission decided to launch an investigation in December 2015 against Safia and its members for fixing the commission they charge football players and coaches‚” it said in a statement.

Safia is a body of sports agents who manage soccer players and coaches. They‚ by and large‚ negotiate transfer fees and contracts on behalf of players and coaches. The Commission statement said its investigation revealed: Safia and its members agreed to charge soccer players and coaches a standard 10% commission fee when negotiating and concluding‚ on their behalf‚ new contracts‚ transfer contracts‚ and renewal contracts with football clubs; and

• They also charge players and coaches a standard 20% commission fee when negotiating and concluding‚ on their behalf‚ new commercial contracts and renewal of those contracts with sponsors.

The Commission asserted they use Safia platform for “collusion”. — DDC as a