PFA chief calls for tighter controls on agents

Players' chief Gordon Taylor has called for agents to "come under the control of the game" former London police chief John Stevens…

Players' chief Gordon Taylor has called for agents to "come under the control of the game" former London police chief John Stevens prepares to deliver the preliminary findings of his inquiry into allegations of corruption in soccer.

Stevens and his team of investigators have examined the 362 transfers which were completed between January 1st, 2004 and January 31st, 2006 and should announce this afternoon whether any of them warrant further scrutiny.

Around 60 of the 362 transfers are thought to require further investigation and Lord Stevens will ask Premiership chairmen if they want more detailed information on those deals.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive Taylor believes the inquiry should have happened a long time ago and would be happy to see agents regulated so players pay them a set percentage of their income - as happens in showbusiness for example - instead of agents negotiating their own one-off payments.

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"That's exactly how it should be done," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "What's happened with the transfer system is that it has been abused and exploited. Players have certain agents, clubs have certain agents that they have to use.

"If players were to pay agents as happens in other professions and if that is the norm it will create a lot of transparency.

"These people haven't been controlled and they need to come under the control of the game."

However, just because football has become such a lucrative industry does not necessarily mean the majority of agents are corrupt, Taylor added.

"There is money whizzing around in all businesses - that doesn't mean to say everybody is dishonest.  A lot of things need tidying up.

"It's amazing it has taken so long for the Premier League to do this, although in fairness to (League chief executive) Richard Scudamore it should have been done a long time ago by the FA."