’Football players around the world sign a contract,not in India’

“Anywhere you go,that’s the perception of agents,” says Jehan Kothary,a Puneite who is one of the only three FIFA-certified football agents in India. “Not just football,but even,say,real estate agents. It’s something we have to live with.”

“I got in touch with the All India Football Federation (AIFF),and asked them whether they could conduct the FIFA agent exam,” Kothary says. “They were very cooperative,and conducted the first exam in May 2010. Around 15 people wrote it,and three of us passed. We’re still the only three in the country,though the AIFF has conducted three more exams after that.”

At this point,Kothary represents seven players,the most recognisable of whom is New Zealander Kayne Vincent,who plays up front for Prayag SC in the I-League. The others include two Nigerians — one of whom plays in the PDFA league and the other in Bangladesh — and four young Indian players.

“One of them is 16,and plays in the Bolton Wanderers academy in the UK,” says Kothary. “A couple more play in Pune,one for Deccan XI and one for the Pune FC academy. Both have got offers from I-League clubs for the next season.” Indian football represents unique challenges for an agent in terms of the contracts that players sign.

“Everywhere else,players sign a standard contract,” Kothary says. “Everyone — from a youngster who hasn’t played a game yet to an established star — signs the same kind of contract. Only the names,personal details and salaries are different.”

This isn’t the case in India. “Here,each club has a different contract. Some are professional,but some are a joke — two-pagers with about eight or nine clauses,” Kothary says. “It isn’t just young players,but even seniors whose interests may be compromised by such contracts. There is no proper dispute settlement.”

Agents’ responsibilities go further than just helping players negotiate contracts,Kothary says. “It’s a 360-degree thing,where we work with them through their careers,whether it’s about commercial opportunities or public relations,” he says. “We even help them with the financials in terms of investments,etc.”