This week could mark a significant shift in the balance of power within European football—and potentially across all sports. Two pivotal legal cases are being reviewed by the Advocate General of the EU Court of Justice, and the resulting opinion could reshape how football agents are regulated throughout the continent.
At the core of the debate is a fundamental question: To what extent can sports governing bodies like FIFA and national football associations dictate the rules of independent businesses operating within the sport?
The Two Cases That Matter:
1. ROGON vs. DFB (German FA)
This case examines how Germany’s football authority implemented FIFA’s agent rules, and whether those implementations infringe on EU competition law. It raises deeper questions about the limits of regulatory control—especially under the Meca-Medina doctrine, which determines when sports regulations can bypass standard EU legal frameworks.
2. RRC Sports vs. FIFA
Here, the spotlight is on two controversial regulations: the cap on agent commissions and the ban on dual representation (where one agent represents both the player and the club). FIFA defends these measures as necessary for transparency and fairness, while RRC Sports argues they are restrictive and anti-competitive.
Why the Outcome Matters:
These rulings won’t just affect football—they could set a legal precedent that impacts how all sports in the EU are governed. The decisions will clarify the boundary between authentic sporting oversight and business regulation, and could decide whether agent fee caps are lawful under EU competition rules.
For now, the sporting world waits—and the business of football holds its breath.
