Two top AFL talent agencies fined for breaking social media rules

The AFL have levied major fines against two of Australia’s top talent agencies. The league has fined TGI, formerly known as TLA, and Mac’s Sports Promotions for violating multiple league rules. Most significantly, the agencies have been fined for contacting underage players on social media.

AFL Players’ Association levies fine 

AFL Players’ Association–which protects players from sports betting, predatory agents, and other things that bring Aussie footballers into disrepute–investigated two top talent agencies. Specifically, the AFLPA’s Agent Accreditation Board looked into TGI Sport and Mac’s Sports Promotions agencies.  
 
TGI Sport–the better known of the two–represents AFL stars such as Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale, Will Phillips. Fyfe is reportedly the second highest paid player in the league.  
 
Unlike TGI Sport, Mac’s Sports Promotions only offers agent services to Aussie rules players. The agency specifically offers “personal management service” to help young players on their AFL pathways. Providing services to young players is exactly the kind of thing that got TGI and Mac’s Sports Promotions in trouble.  
 
The AAB fined the two agencies $12,500 for illegal contact with underage players and other rules violations. TGI sport was fined $10,000, with a quarter of the fine suspended for 12 months. Mac’s Sports Promotions was fined $2,500 for their violations.  

Agent Accreditation Board statement 

The AAB announced their fines against TGI Sport and Mac’s Sports Promotions on Monday.  
 
“The AAB found that MSP had contacted a player in the talent pathways through social media, without first having completed the Approaching Players process as required under the regulations,” said the AAB statement.  
 
“All accredited agents must submit a written letter of introduction via the AFLPA agent portal and wait the required time frame before contacting that player or their parents/legal guardians. 
 
“In determining the appropriate penalty, the AAB noted that it takes agent communication with talent pathway players and interaction with younger persons on social media seriously,” the statement explained.  
 
As for why TGI Sport received a bigger punishment, the AAB explained that TGI Sport was a repeat offender. This meant they deserved a harsher punishment.  
 
“In determining the appropriate sanction, the AAB noted TGI have recently been issued with separate sanctions and takes repeat breaches of the regulations seriously,” the AAB said.

The AAB allowed the agencies to donate their fines to charity. TGI Sport was allowed to donate its fine to the Clontarf Foundation in Perth. Mac’s Sports Promotions donated its fine to the My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.