BEHAVIOUR OF FOOTBALL AGENTS

Early day motion 514, tabled 13 March 2000 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 55 members.

That this House views the growing involvement of agents for professional footballers, particularly for those in the lower leagues, as being detrimental to the long-term interests of the game; notes that the parasitic actions of agents are sucking money from clubs and thus threaten their future; congratulates some clubs, notably in the lower divisions, on the lead being taken in seeking to resist the demands made by agents; and calls on the Government to urge the football authorities to institute a code of practice to limit the activities of agents to the non-footballing interests of their clients and thus end the loss of money from the game which such parasites cause.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 6, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.