Some of South Africa's prominent player agents could challenge the country's football association following its decision to cap the commission of representatives at 3% from tomorrow.
Safa president Danny Jordaan, who announced the new rule at the weekend, said the verdict was based on the recommendation of Fifa, world football's governing body.
The agents, who have charged fees as high as 10%, were up in arms yesterday. They argued that the regulation would change the landscape of the Premier League.
Safa settled on the percentage after it was debated by the national executive committee and given a stamp of approval at their constitutional congress in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Safa said it would "educate" clubs and intermediaries - the now preferred term for agents - on the 3% when official communication was made this week. Premier Soccer League chairman and Safa vice-president Irvin Khoza said the new rule was significant in "making sure we stabilise the industry".
However, one player representative, who did not want to be named, argued the new cap would dent South African-based agents' pockets as the market was different.
"I don't know too much about this at the moment, but my initial reaction is that if you've got someone in the English Premier League, the 3% is substantial, but for a guy in the SA Premier League, it is probably not that substantial," he said.
Paul Mitchell of Siyavuma Sports suggested the new law could be as a result of the tainted image player representatives have been labelled with over the years. "There's a big misconception about how a legitimate licensed agent works," he said. "I've run a successful company in SA for the last six years and have always had a licensed agent in the company. I cannot remember a player paying me a single rand. We've always worked on a 10% commission payable by the club. This could see people losing jobs."
Another agent said the official word from Safa would determine his next step.
"I don't know what others think, but sometimes the association does things to the benefit of the local game. So, we shouldn't overreact because it might seem like we are greedy agents who are fighting this three percent," he said.
Agents up in arms
Some of South Africa's prominent player agents could challenge the country's football association following its decision to cap the commission of representatives at 3% from tomorrow.
Safa president Danny Jordaan, who announced the new rule at the weekend, said the verdict was based on the recommendation of Fifa, world football's governing body.
The agents, who have charged fees as high as 10%, were up in arms yesterday. They argued that the regulation would change the landscape of the Premier League.
Safa settled on the percentage after it was debated by the national executive committee and given a stamp of approval at their constitutional congress in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Safa said it would "educate" clubs and intermediaries - the now preferred term for agents - on the 3% when official communication was made this week. Premier Soccer League chairman and Safa vice-president Irvin Khoza said the new rule was significant in "making sure we stabilise the industry".
However, one player representative, who did not want to be named, argued the new cap would dent South African-based agents' pockets as the market was different.
"I don't know too much about this at the moment, but my initial reaction is that if you've got someone in the English Premier League, the 3% is substantial, but for a guy in the SA Premier League, it is probably not that substantial," he said.
Paul Mitchell of Siyavuma Sports suggested the new law could be as a result of the tainted image player representatives have been labelled with over the years. "There's a big misconception about how a legitimate licensed agent works," he said. "I've run a successful company in SA for the last six years and have always had a licensed agent in the company. I cannot remember a player paying me a single rand. We've always worked on a 10% commission payable by the club. This could see people losing jobs."
Another agent said the official word from Safa would determine his next step.
"I don't know what others think, but sometimes the association does things to the benefit of the local game. So, we shouldn't overreact because it might seem like we are greedy agents who are fighting this three percent," he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos