Agents & Player Contracts

INTERMEDIARIES, BETTER KNOWN AS FOOTBALL AGENTS, ARE PART OF THE MODERN DAY GAME.

It is only right and proper that a player seeks advice and representation in contractual negotiations with a club, and the quality of that advice and representation is crucial. 

When dealing with an agent, we strongly advise you to remember the following:

• Check if the agent is registered with the football association
• Only work with an agent you have seen and spoken with
• Never pay an agent before signing a contract with a club
• Never sign an agreement with an agent without first seeking legal advice
• Check if the club knows that you are coming for a trial or to sign a contract, or ask if the club knows the agent.

Football Agent Regulations

Player Contracts

REMEMBER – FOOTBALL IS A PLAYERS PLACE OF WORK

We shape and influences the provisions currently available to players across Northern Ireland, as we strive to improve welfare and working conditions throughout the game. Just like any other industry, football is a player’s place of work and their career is their livelihood. They, just like any other worker, have rules and structures in place to protect their pay, their contracts, their working conditions and environment, their health and safety, and their development.

PLAYERS ARE ENTITLED TO THE SAME RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AS ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE OF A COMPANY

We actively work to ensure players have basic protections upheld across the institutions and governance mechanisms that steward the football industry. Players need, and are entitled to, the same human rights and good governance practices as any other member of society, and the same legal protections as any other employee. This includes the right to organise and bargain collective agreements.

Legal Advice

The PFA NI have provided legal advice and representation to a number of players who have required expert opinion on matters such as contracts, injury, club fines and pay related issues.
It is worth noting that as an association we always try our best to resolve any issues directly with the club to allow you the player to concentrate on playing. We always seek proper legal advice before we enter these conversations to ensure we give you the proper and correct representation. However, sometimes we cannot reach a resolution amicably and it is then that we may launch legal proceedings with your agreement and aim to take the case to a tribunal.

Standard Players Contract

The PFA NI are currently working to achieve a new standard contract for all players. We believe the current contract requires clarity on issues such as injury and associated costs and requires essential amendments for subject matters such as Holiday Pay, Paternity and Maternity pay for Male & Female footballers.

After signing, the club must lodge with The IFA. If you did not receive a copy when you signed with your club then you can request a copy directly from the Irish FA

The current Irish FA Standard Players Contract –

What you should know

We strongly advise players to join their player association

We can give you important advice about your contract before you sign with a club.

Most complaints by players are about unpaid wages

A FIFPRO survey of 14,000 players in 2016 found that 41 percent of players had been paid late in the previous two seasons – and in one country this was as high as 95 percent. We also found more than 700 players (six percent) had been isolated from the rest of the squad, a tactic used to make players rescind their contract.

Players have a legal justification to leave a club

From 1 June 2018, FIFA agreed to change rules so that players have a legal justification to leave a club if they give 15 days’ notice after not being paid for two straight months. Clubs can also no longer write so-called ‘grace periods” into contracts which allow them to pay player wages late, and players can start legal proceedings with a view to leaving a club which is behaving in an abusive way towards them.