Watchdog to write to clubs about youth football deals

The UK’s competition watchdog will write to Scotland’s professional clubs to remind them of their legal obligations when registering child footballers.

Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner and grassroots campaigners had called for a investigation into the system for how players are registered with elite clubs, claiming it exploits young players and breaks competition law.

But the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has told them it does not currently have the resources to do this.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) previously said its registration system is in line with world governing body Fifa, but campaigners have urged the CMA to reconsider its position.

Children can register for a professional club in Scotland from the age of 10 and a compensation system is in place when young players move between elite teams.

Players in these teams in the 15 to 17-year-old age group sign for a two-year period that can only be terminated if both parties agree.

It is these rules, along with a cap on moves between clubs, which critics claim are restricting young players’ freedom of movement.

This was the basis of the complaint against both the SFA and SPFL in December last year.

The CMA, which is in the process of laying off around 100 people due to a “budgeting error”, said its decision not to investigate was a “administrative priority decision and does not constitute a substantive view on the merits of the matters raised”.

A spokesman for the RealGrassroots campaign, one of the complainants, said: “The CMA made clear that this is purely a matter of prioritisation at a time when resources are spread thin.

“It does not preclude an investigation in the future, nor does it call into question the merits of our complaint in any way.

“It is certainly not a clean bill of health for the SFA’s and SPFL’s anti-competitive practices.”

He added: “What this turn of events confirms is the need for effective regulation of Scottish football’s governing bodies, who have shown themselves unwilling to give youth footballers the freedom they deserve.”

The CMA told complainants it would be writing to the SFA and SPFL to remind them of their obligations to comply with UK competition laws.

Nick Hobbs, head of advice and investigation at the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, said he was “extremely surprised and disappointed” by the CMA’s preliminary view to not investigate the complaints.

He added: “These complaints were made only after a decade of attempts by our office, the petitioners, and MSPs to ensure children’s rights are protected in Scottish football.

“The CMA is the only body with the authority and the legal powers to make the SFA and SPFL change the rules.

“We note the consistently high cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament for the necessary rule changes, and strongly urge the CMA to reconsider their position.”

In 2020, Holyrood’s petitions committee raised “genuine concerns” about whether the current registration system adequately protected the rights of children, external and called for reform.

The CMA is the UK government body responsible for taking action against businesses and individuals that take part in anti-competitive behaviour.

It uses “prioritisation principles” to work out which cases to take on but does not tend to speak publicly about its work until its concluded.

The SFA previously said it had made significant progress in protecting young players involved in the game, including changes to the registration process.

It has been approached for comment.