Marseille accused of tapping up Payet
Slav told reporters “He’s probably been tapped up by some clubs or whatever,That is usual at this time of year.”
Today French newspaper L’Equipe front page claims Marseille have agreed terms with the 29 year old former player which if true is in clear breach of FIFA’s transfer rules designed to stamp out tapping up.
Article 14(c)of the FIFA Players’ Agents Regulations states that a licensed player’s agent must never approach a player who is under contract with a club with the aim of persuading him to terminate his contract prematurely or to flout the rights and duties stipulated in that contract. Any agent who sets up meetings with other clubs in this manner will clearly be in breach of the regulations which he must adhere to in his role as a football agent.
Chelsea have emerged as another club in media reports this morning that have potentially tapped up the Hammer. The Sun claim Conte is interested and unconfirmed reports say he was spotted at Stamford bridge a few weeks ago.
Should a English club be found guilty of tapping up a player they would face a fine from the FA. In 2014 Everton were fined £45,000 for tapping up a Nottingham Forest player and in 2015 Arsenal were fined £60,000 for tapping up Southampton’s Calum Chambers. However these fines are nothing in the scheme of the eye watering transfer deals involved and in truth fines are rare and the practise has not been stamped out in the industry.
Marseille are obviously outside the FA’s jurisdiction so West Ham will need to complain to UEFA and/or FIFA about the breach of rules. Both of these organisations have less teeth than the FA and unlikely to act by handing out a punishment to the French team. In reality player power is supreme and players and agents know that and pay little respect to the rules regarding tapping up.