[3] The practice has also been widely used in football in South America, particularly in countries such as Brazil and Argentina, with a system of players, clubs, agents, teams, and investors involved.
In a written declaration, the European Parliament states that third-party ownership raises concerns over the integrity of competitions and introduces risks of criminal activities into sports.
[6] According to a 2015 Bloomberg News article, the Football Leaks uncovered secretive "financing practice for the global sport" with "one of the biggest firms investing millions in soccer-player futures".
[7] One method of circumventing the 2015 FIFA ban is to utilise a floating charge over designated accounts where the proceeds of player transfers is paid into.
[3] At its annual general meeting in June 2008, the English Premier League drafted new rules L34 and L35 to restrict third party ownership of players from the beginning of the 2008–9 season.
[3] Premier League rules authorise financial institutions to hold player economic rights - which Maciel & Walton suggests, appears to be a contravention of the all-encompassing FIFA ban.
In 2007 as reported in The Guardian, The league's rule U18 had previously stated that the third parties were not permitted to "materially influence" a club's "policies or the performances of its teams".
[1] Third-party ownership became controversial in English football after the arrival at West Ham United of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from the Brazilian club Corinthians in August 2006.
On 31 August 2006 Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano moved to West Ham United in the English Premier League from Brazilian side Corinthians for an undisclosed fee.
[20] It subsequently emerged that Tevez's economic rights were owned by Media Sports Investments and a second company, Just Sports Inc.,[21] while Mascherano was jointly owned by Global Soccer Agencies and Mystere Services Ltd.[1][22] All four companies were represented by Kia Joorabchian and the deal was brokered by MSI, whose president Joorabchian had been until June 2006.
[20][23] Due to irregularities in the player's contracts, West Ham United were eventually fined a record £5.5 million by the Premier League.
[30] In 2009 it was reported that the unnamed investors represented by Joorabchian were understood to own the economic rights to 60 or 70 players across Europe and South America.
[31] In June 2010 it was reported that Kia Joorabchian had secured a 50% share in the Brazilian midfielder Ramires,[32] then at Benfica but subject to transfer interest from across Europe, led by Chelsea in the English Premier League.
[37] When third-party ownership was allowed in Portugal, agent company GestiFute and investment funds bought part of the economic rights of the players, namely Bebé, Deco, etc.
[44] In 2009, it acquired all the rights of Alan Douglas, 50% of Maicon, Dalton, Raphael Augusto; 30% of Sandro, Bob; 25% of João Paulo, Brayan and Matheus Carvalho; 20% of Tartá.
[46] FC Barcelona bought Keirrison and Henrique from Palmeiras, but on its annual report, it shown the payment were transferred to Desportivo Brasil Participaçoes Ltda.