Paper Presentation I:
The Market and the Law
Thursday, April 8, 15.15–17.15

Sylvie Eysseltova
The University of Economics, Prague

The main aim of this paper is to clarify the essential problems concerning talented players’ transfers from Czech Republic to foreign countries. The Bosman case completely changed the basic conditions of player transfers, especially in the field of player contract length negotiations. In the Czech Republic football is one of the most popular sports with a huge commercial support. This paper will reveal the background of football player market in the Czech Republic, focused on transfer terms, legal agreements, transfer fees, player contracts etc..  In context with player transfers need to be mentioned also players´ valuation issue. Youth talented players were transferred from Czech Republic to abroad often for insufficient amounts. Czech clubs did loose the talents and did not obtain at least an amount of money which would cover the costs they’ve had to invest; this has changed with FIFA regulations. This article and presentation also covers the differences in player transfers before and after these regulations were introduced. An example of player transfers from Czech Republic is focused on football in late 90s and later. The financial strategy of a Czech football club has been mostly based on raising talented players who would attract more spectators and serve the club later on for additional income. In the 90s this “policy” functioned. However Czech football has lately become uncompetitive due to unprofessional football government of the clubs and also of the national association. All these facts affected the football post-Bosman milieu in the Czech Republic. This paper is an “excursion” to Czech football background, especially by the clubs participating in the European football competitions.