Football agents suffered a legal setback over fee

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Brussels-based agent Jacques Lichtenstein and his partner, former Tottenham striker Ronnie Rosenthal claimed a £450,000 fee over the transfer of Gilberto Silva to English Premier League club Arsenal from the Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro.

The evidence of Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein and manager Arsene Wenger proved critical when they testified in support of Brazilian club that they had not used the agents’ services. Dein testified that Arsenal had dealt directly with the Brazilian and had not gone through Lichtenstein, who had been authorized by the Brazilian side “to interest'' European clubs in Gilberto. Dein also told the court that the agents had "missed the train" and had tried to "jump aboard when the train was already moving".

Lichtenstein had claimed that the Brazilian club agreed to pay him 10% of the £4.5m transfer fee they received, but the club denied any such deal and said that Lichtenstein and Rosenthal had nothing to do with the transfer.

The High Court rejected the agents claim for commission and ordered that the agents should pay the Brazilian club's £94,000 costs as well their own costs.

The case, which has cost Lichtenstein and Rosenthal around £190,000 in legal fees, illustrates the growing practice of agents claiming a fee even if they have had no direct involvement with a transfer.