Thompson calls for universal policy on player transfer

Accra, April 1, GNA - A Sports Law and Management Consultant, Mr Ernest Thompson has underscored the need for a universal policy on player transfer to guide and protect players.

Mr Thompson noted that the absence of a common rule was largely responsible for the lapses and controversies engulfing the player transfer system on the local scene.

The Consultant made the observation on Wednesday at a workshop on "Player Management and Transfers in Africa" at the on-going of the 3rd Accra Biennial Football Expo and the 1st Events Expo Ghana 2010 organised by Rics Consult, an Accra-based Sports Marketing and events Management firm. Mr Thompson is also a former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Member said such a policy will streamline activities related to player transfer.

He said that the frequent cases emanating from the transfer of players between clubs was "killing' the game, hence the need to develop and find a solution to the problem.

Mr Thompson who doubles as the Board Secretary of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club advised football administrators and club officials to tackle the issue seriously by putting it before Congress, the supreme and legislative organ of the GFA for consideration. He said that such a policy would also help to regulate the role of persons who pose as "Player Managers", and rather seek for their selfish interest and not that of the player.

"Some of these agents present fake documentation and the effects could be detrimental to both club and player involved." The Sports Law and Management Consultant therefore advised clubs to be weary of fake and unlicensed 'FIFA' agents, whose transactions could be detrimental to the playing ambitions of a player.

Mr Thompson welcomed the idea of the electronic player transfer system developed by FIFA and encouraged football administrators and officials to get involved to weed out the 'bad nuts' in the player transfer system. The 3rd Accra Biennial Football Expo, which began on Tuesday, March 30, is on the theme "South Africa 2010, Challenges, Opportunities and Legacies for Africa", is centred on the real benefits that the African continent would accrue from hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup by South Africa, the first of its kind on African soil.

It is also aimed at exploring avenues to manage football professionally to maximize the returns on investment.

Experts from the industry will share experiences and point the way forward for the development of the game in Ghana and Africa in general to an appreciable height.

The 1st Events Expo is also under the theme: "Redefining the Fundamentals of Event Architecture, Planning, Organisation and Management as an emerging Industry."

Participants drawn from across the country and beyond are attending the events which climaxes on Thursday, April 1 and runs concurrently at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The first edition of the Football Expo was held in 2006 and centred on the redefinition of the commercial values of football across Africa whilst the second which was held in 2008 highlighted on the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations as a vehicle for socio-economic development in Africa. The Accra Biennial Football Expo is the brainchild of RICS Consult, a Sports Marketing and Event Management firm. 01 April 10