John Blavo, an FA-registered lawyer, is the founder and Senior Partner of Blavo & Co; a law firm with expertise in several areas including sport, tax, commercial, immigration and employment law. John advises several leading footballers both in the Premier League and abroad.
When Massadio Haidara was carried off the field on Sunday against Wigan Athletic, he was just the latest example of the sight that professional footballers fear the most.
Gary Neville has recently and strongly criticised the influence of football agents in the game, and his thoughts led me to reflect on my own experiences of dealing with them.
The leap to Europe is still a bracing one for many footballers to make. To make that leap as safely as possible, there’s nothing like the welcoming cushion of a well-negotiated contract.