We have probably already come to terms with the fact that soccer is no longer the purist, innocent sport from our childhood memories.
Football has been a business for a long time.
Commercialization has already progressed to such an extent that it is becoming increasingly difficult for many of us to get excited about this great sport.
It often seems that the simplest solution is simply to turn away. According to the motto “then I'll just watch handball” or at least “I'd rather watch district league than champion league.”
While such reactions are generally justifiable and understandable, practices have now also found their way into modern soccer that we must not turn away from. Machinations in which we can no longer look away.
One of the most unscrupulous side effects of modern soccer:
Football Trafficking.
In other words: modern slave trade.
The term Football Trafficking Is derived from Human Trafficking off.
In English: human trafficking. Just in soccer.
The merchandise? Young soccer players!
Mostly male and mostly from Africa and sometimes Latin America. The business principle? Young soccer players are “scouted” by so-called reputable agents and lured to Europe with false promises.
Forced to sign exploitative gagging contracts, if successful, a large part of the salary ends up with the agent. If the player fails, he usually ends up on the street in a foreign country.
In fact, this topic is so serious that it is always worthwhile to deal with it at any time and time. Our personal impetus was the public investigation of the Silas Katompa Mvumpa case and some of the reactions to it.
Only belatedly was the effort made to research and publicize the actual background. Media headlines that suggested Silas Katompa Mvumpa was perpetrator rather than victim — not only legally, but above all moral — were initially in the majority and were reproduced and passed on far too often without reflection.
The result: a slipping into post-colonial patterns of behavior and understanding of values. While the DFB has found a surprisingly elegant solution with a three-month suspension that “coincidentally” falls during the player's injury break, opinions about a game ban or even a deportation are still being voiced too often at the Republic's regulars' tables.
What's missing is context! Why people like Silas Katompa Mvumpa are not perpetrators of modern soccer and endanger its integrity, but its victims.
Be one step ahead of the others - with B42
Football trafficking is a criminal procedure in which 15,000 young soccer players come to Europe every year.
Self-appointed agents or players' agents contact players and their families in their countries of origin and take advantage of people's often hopeless social situation.
They present themselves as representatives of Premier League clubs or other European heavyweights. With promises of a better life and an enticing future in rich Europe, families are persuaded to send their children to Europe with agents.
Entire villages often collect money to pay the “applicable transfer fees” for their future superstars.
From the moment the player sets off with his advisor, he is completely in their hands.
He usually has no access to his documents or money and is in a country whose language and culture are often completely alien to him. At this point, either the player or his parents have already signed legally binding preliminary contracts that legally legitimize the agent and his machinations.
If necessary, transfers are provided with additional legal protection. Because, of course, there are appropriate laws that should actually prevent such a procedure.
In the case of underage players, the agent often pretends to be the player's family member and the reasons for entry officially have nothing to do with soccer, or the real parents are simply immediately given a job in Europe.
If the player is “lucky”, he actually prevails in one of the European leagues. Then he simply has to give up a large part of his salary and may play under a false name. What if he's unlucky and doesn't make it?
He then often ends up on some street in rich Europe without a residence permit, other papers, money and prospects.
The development of football trafficking in its current complexity and extent is derived from several factors.
Two decisive factors are Commercialization and Globalization.
In a sport that is increasingly about money and economic factors, smaller clubs in particular depend on “doing well.”
The solution: so-called bargain purchases from other EU countries.
One of the most lucrative markets for this: Africa. In addition, it is becoming increasingly easy to transport people from A to B in a globalized world.
In a soccer world where global transfers from London to Shanghai or Sao Paolo to Istanbul are the order of the day, a 13-year-old African talent of the century who flies to Rome with his European advisor is no longer looked so closely upon arrival. Thanks to falsified papers and lax FIFA regulations.
The demand for “cheap” soccer talent of ironic whites was initiated by a court ruling that was actually intended to strengthen players' rights and that we all know: the Bosman ruling (1995).
The most important consequence: Players may no longer cost a transfer fee after their contract expires. As a result, longer contracts have been concluded following the verdict and the transfer fee of players whose working papers are still valid has increased. As a result, many smaller associations had to open up new markets for themselves.
And then, of course, there is one last very central aspect: human greed. Football trafficking is not about promoting up-and-coming talent from all over the world and giving them a chance on the big soccer stage.
For an increasing number of shady characters, it is simply an excellent opportunity to earn quick money. That is why football trafficking involves mostly male victims. Since more money flows in men's soccer than in women's soccer, they are simply more lucrative.
Well, as you may have already noticed, we see ourselves not just as a sports science service provider, but as a movement for society as a whole. We're bringing amateur soccer into the 21st century.
This means: digitization, professional-level sports science expertise for all players, regardless of which league, and a social code of values.
We should all — including you — speak up against barbaric transactions such as human trafficking at any time and at any time. And when such machinations have been established in soccer for years and have recently become more and more extensive, then it becomes even more of our topic. We love our sport way too much not to do it!
Raise our voice and attract attention!
The masterminds benefit primarily from the fact that they can go about their dirty business in the background without being disturbed. Clubs too often see their opportunity to get talented players quickly and cheaply.
Especially those who are financially tight and do not have the appropriate resources to do the necessary research about the origin and background of a potential new addition.
The moment a problem is brought to the public eye, the relevant actors in Europe (and elsewhere) must yield to media and social pressure, address the issue and react to it.
Associations such as FIFA and UEFA must tighten and better monitor the rules for global transfers — particularly of minors. Clubs must be aware of the situation and be clear about the player and his environment before completing a transfer.
This is not about obstructing the future of non-European players, but about protecting young people and their families from human trafficking.
Be fearless. Be focused. B42
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