Fake agents pose significant threat to African football academies, warns international sports lawyer
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
International sports lawyer Abiodun Sonaike has identified fake football agents and scammers as a major threat to football academies and amateur clubs in Africa. Sonaike, a Partner at Lithos Legal Consult, stated that these fraudulent activities harm player development and erode trust in the sport. He noted that academy owners often receive messages from individuals falsely claiming connections to foreign clubs, who then use fake invitation letters and forged transfer documents to extort money. These fraudsters sometimes pose with former international players to create a false impression of influence and even clone the social media accounts of legitimate agents. Sonaike highlighted that scammers frequently promise trials, contracts, visas, and transfers that are nonexistent. He added that academies often discover the deception only after losing money, time, and the confidence of players and parents. Expressing concern over the increasing number of such cases, Sonaike emphasized the need for greater awareness of these fraudulent operations. To combat this issue, he plans to lead discussions on due diligence and fraud prevention at the Elite Football Management and Business Masterclass 2026, scheduled for July 10 and 11 in Lagos. During this event, he will advise football managers on protecting their academies, clubs, and players from fraud, sharing insights from real-life football transactions and disputes.
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