Criminal Prosecution Of UK Football Agents: How FA Regulations Overlap The Bribery Act
In December 2019[1], following a two months’ trial at Southwark Crown Court, Giuseppe Pagliara and Dax Price (football agents), and Tommy Wright (assistant head coach of Barnsley FC), were convicted of offences under the Bribery Act 2010. They were caught by the Daily Telegraph’s investigation into corruption in football as having offered/accepted bribes in order to persuade players at Barnsley FC to use Pagliara and Price as their agents with a view to the agents also having a third-party interest in the players in question.
This article examines the case, looking at:
- Facts
- Interplay between the Bribery Act 2010 and the FA Intermediaries’ Regulations
- The prohibition on third party interest
By way of disclosure, the authors acted for the prosecution.
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- Tags: Agents | Anti-Corruption | Barnsley FC | Bribery Act | Criminal Law | FA Regulations | Football | Football Agent | Intermediary Regulations | Regulation & Governance | Sports | Third Party Interest
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Written by
Brian O'Neill QC
Brian is a barrister at 2 Hare Court. Now entering his twelfth year in Silk, Brian provides advice and advocacy in private prosecutions (in which he has a particular expertise), business crime, and serious crime. His expert skills can be applied to any complex situation whether defending or prosecuting across various jurisdictions. He advises corporate clients in this jurisdiction and abroad and gives advice to foreign Governments. He has appeared in numerous high profile cases and has represented a number of professional footballers.
Julia Faure Walker
Julia is ranked by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in Crime.In May 2020, she was appointed Junior Treasury Counsel by the Attorney General. Recent instructions include terrorism, murder, human trafficking and bribery.
She is on the “A-List” of specialist regulatory advocates in health & safety and environmental law. She has advised in relation to and appeared in proceedings against companies in fatal accident cases. Recent instructions include fatalities at a waste management site and within a railway depot.
In 2015, she was appointed to the counsel team of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. She was junior counsel to the Children in Custodial Institutions and Children Outside the UK Investigations.
She has represented various interested persons in coronial proceedings, including health professionals, a regulatory body and the family of the deceased.
