BVB adviser Sammer faces fierce backlash and disbelief | OneFootball

Matthias Sammer recently spoke out, not in his role as a consultant for BVB, when he took a clear stance against an entire profession that has long been established in modern football. The corresponding reactions were not long in coming.

Those targeted by Matthias Sammer in questioning their legitimacy accused him of "hypocrisy" and "insanity." According to Sportbild, there is even talk of a cease-and-desist order. The cause of this outrage was Sammer's statement in a TV interview that he would simply "abolish" player agents if it were up to him.

The long-time BVB player and later championship coach also provided arguments for this: "Firstly, they earn too much money. Secondly, they are unnecessary, and thirdly, it creates no good relationship between player and club."

The discussion in which Sammer presented this viewpoint revolved around a potential contract extension for Dayot Upamecano at FC Bayern Munich. His agent had demanded that the usual signing bonus be paid out immediately in one tranche rather than spread over the contract duration.

Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images

Agent industry sharply counters Sammer's criticism

The response from the guild of player agents was multifaceted. Criticism of individual misdevelopments is certainly legitimate, they said. However, Sammer's remarks were generalizing and no longer reflected the reality in football. After all, football today is a "highly complex legal, economic, and international environment." The assumption that a young player could navigate this is unrealistic. Moreover, not only players benefit from the knowledge of agents. Clubs also profit from it, for example, in the initiation of transfers.

But the rather mild reply from established agencies like Rogon, Roof, Fokus, or Soccertalk did not stop there. Sammer's words were "damaging to reputations," reinforced prejudices, and made discussions more difficult. The agents reject the approach of generalizing from individual cases to an entire profession.

Sammer is also said to have received headshakes for his position because he himself was still working as a consultant in 2018, as was legally established. According to Sportbild, even employees at BVB were reportedly surprised by the statements of their own consultant.

For the sporting and personnel situation at Borussia Dortmund, this now fiercely flaring but presumably quickly extinguishing discussion is unlikely to have any consequences.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.