Survey claims tapping up is rife
’Tapping up’ remains a widespread practice in football and the rules should be reformed, according to a leading law firm.
Using data from the Kick Off Review, Mishcon de Reya – who commissioned the YouGov survey – claim only 15% of clubs questioned said their playing staff or officials had definitely not been the subject of an illegal approach in the past year.
The Kick Off Review revealed all clubs surveyed wished to see more severe penalties for approaching players under contract without asking permission from the club.
Top of the list of punishments was a better compensation system, with half calling for transfer bans for clubs and a third believing the individual player or official should be suspended.
“Tapping up goes on all the time, pretty much with every transfer it happens,” Adam Morallee, partner and sports law expert at Mishcon de Reya, said.
“Managers moan about it from time to time but we need to get real and abolish the regulations for older players.
“The real problem is not the Wayne Rooneys of this world but the younger players who are brought through by a smaller club and then get poached.”
The law firm has recommended a relaxation of the rules for over-23s – mirroring the business world where top employees are ’headhunted’ – but an increase in the protection of younger players with greater punishments, like a points deduction, and proper compensation where offences are proved.
The Kick Off Review, which surveyed board members from more than 20 clubs across all four professional divisions, also raised issues over clubs’ financial management.
The research found four out of 10 clubs believe the financial fair play regulations – designed to curb excessive spending on transfers and salaries - are easy to circumvent.
