UEFA, agents clash over third-party ownership

UEFA President Michel Platini wants to end the third-party ownership of players' transfer rights but that is being fiercely opposed by agents who contend it would be a disaster for smaller clubs who depend on outside financing to secure big names.

The issue came up repeatedly at a two-day football conference in Dubai with several agents complaining the issue was being mischaracterized in the press and that imposing a ban - which is already in place in France and England - would only serve to further widen the gap between big and small clubs.

Others like European Football Agents Association Chairman Rob Jansen said he opposed third parties owning the rights to a player but felt Platini was going too far with his calls to scrap the system altogether.