Section C1 of the FA rules, prohibits a player who is under contract, or his agent, from talking to other clubs,
or being approached by other clubs, without the consent of the player’s current club.
Despite the rules, tapping up still happens as clubs strive to improve their standing, footballers look to improve their pay packets and profiles and agents are always eager to pocket the hefty percentage a new deal can bring them. Approaches will often be made when a player is away from his club on international duty or via clandestine meetings out of the public eye.
Possible sanctions
If tapping up is discovered, punishments may be handed down by those involved in the meeting, including to the:
- club tapping up the player;
- manager of the club tapping up the player;
- player;
- agent of the player.
In a high profile case in 2005 involving Arsenal defender Ashley Cole who, with his agent, illicitly met representatives of Chelsea FC, the sanctions imposed were:
- a fine and a suspended three-point deduction for the club;
- a fine for the manager;
- a fine for the player;
- a fine and a suspension of the licence for the agent.