Post by FFAR Online

If you are a football agent based in, or planning to establish your business in, one of the EU countries, this is essential reading. This is a compliance requirement, and there are no exceptions based on size or turnover. *** Q. Football was not included in the European Commission’s original legislative proposal but was added in the final package adopted in 2024. What was the rationale for this choice and why should we care about football when we talk about anti-money laundering? A. This is a very interesting question which I am glad to answer. As you noted, football was not part of the Commission’s initial package and was subsequently included at the request of the European Parliament. EU legislative procedures involve the Commission, Parliament, and Council. There was a strong conviction within the European Parliament that the football sector carried significant money laundering risks, for a number of reasons: the global popularity of the sport; the considerable sums involved, with very substantial cash flows and financial interests; the prevalence of cross-border transactions; and the fact that the corporate structures of football clubs, or of their investors, are not always transparent. Taken together, these factors expose football to significant money laundering risks. A few figures illustrate how football has become a global industry: according to some estimates, the global football market was worth USD 56 billion in 2024, with growth prospects of up to USD 70 billion by 2030, with approximately two thirds of those amounts deriving from the European football market. Media, sponsors, and ticket sales alone were worth USD 38 billion in 2024. Q. And the economic and financial figures of football have increased exponentially over recent decades? A. Certainly. It is clear that football has grown into something of fundamental importance, not only in terms of overall size but also in terms of the sheer volume of money flowing through the sport. And when you look at other sports, football truly stands apart: even the second largest sport by economic value operates at a scale significantly below that of football. *** One interview of Jacopo Carmassi published by Italian football and finance outlet Calcio e Finanza on 27 April 2026, AMLA - The EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority chair Bruna Szego discussed the inclusion of professional football clubs and football agents in the EU anti-money laundering framework from July 2029, the money laundering risks specific to the football sector, and what professional clubs and agents will need to do to be ready for the new obligations coming into force in July 2029. The full interview in the first comment. #ffar #sportsbusiness #footballregulation #sportslaw #footballlaw #football #footballnews #footballagent #footballbusiness #fifa #eu #europeancommission #europeanparliament #antimoneylaundering #aml #frankfurt #compliance #amlpackage #ffaronline #amla #fifaagent #eu27 #riskmanagement