Bundesliga: how German clubs handle the agent question
Germany takes a different approach to agent verification. What we observed and what the rest of Europe can learn.
A culture of rigour
German clubs have a reputation for thoroughness that holds true in how they handle intermediaries. Most Bundesliga clubs have a formal agent verification process before they even open a discussion. In France, people often improvise. In Germany, there is a protocol. It is not perfect, it takes time, but it avoids bad surprises. A sporting director in Dortmund told us: we would rather lose a deal than negotiate with someone whose identity we cannot verify.
The DFL's role
The Deutsche Fussball Liga has established governance standards that many European leagues could envy. These standards do not directly cover agent verification, but they create a compliance culture that spills over into everything else. When you are used to documenting every decision, you also document your relationships with intermediaries.
What can be adopted elsewhere
We are not saying the German model is perfect. The Bundesliga has its own problems, particularly on international transfers where local procedures fall short. But the core idea, having a process before having a conversation, is something the rest of Europe should adopt. That is exactly what FOOTPASS tries to make easy.
The international challenge
Things get complicated as soon as you cross borders. An agent based in Brazil, negotiating with a German club for a player under contract in Belgium, must navigate three legal systems and three different registries. These are the situations where verification becomes critical, and where existing tools show their limits.
Discover FOOTPASS
Authenticated messaging, verified Pass ID, digital authorizations, encrypted vault. Join 1,200+ football members.
Download FOOTPASS
