TPO funds – The Pay-Day Loans of the football world?
Fifa has agreed to ban the third-party ownership (TPO) of players. It’s the practise that allows clubs to buy players wherein the transfer fee is part-funded by an investment company, which then takes a share in the commercial rights of the player, with the desire for that percentage to turn a handsome profit when the player is sold on. In essence, the fund is using the club as a finishing school for a player to gain in experience and ability, thus increasing his value in the transfer market and proportionately having the same effect on their investment. Some see such practices as reasonable, others as the inevitable and insidious continuing encroachment of financial affairs into the world of football. Continue reading →
‘Mini Messi’ joins the Sporting Lisbon academy
Sporting Lisbon have jumped the queue slowly being formed by a number of a number Premier League clubs, and snatched away the player called ‘mini Messi’ in Scotland. The Lisbon club have laid out a fairly modest £3millikon fee to whisk the 18 year-old away to the Estadio Jose Alvalade on a six year contract. With sporting having an established line of stars from iis stable including Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, Gauld’s future is probably in experienced hands. Continue reading →