Scam, fake player agents and millions, the hidden business of French examined by the courts

Scam, fake player agents and millions, the hidden business of French examined by the courts
Scam, fake player agents and millions, the hidden business of French football examined by the courts

HEARING REPORT – The criminal court is looking into the practices of a company influential in the world of , which used unlicensed agents to negotiate contracts like those of Alexandre Lacazette. Eight defendants including Christophe Galtier's son are on trial.

Le Figaro Marseille

Usually, behind the scenes of football remains secret. But a denunciation by players' agent Jean-Pierre Bernès to the Marseille prosecutor helped to shine the spotlight on this occult world. Since Monday, and for three days, eight defendants have appeared before the sixth chamber of the Marseille criminal court in a vast case of organized gang fraud and illegal exercise of the profession of players' agents, in which the French Federation of football (FFF) has become a civil party.

Among them are the current president of FC Damien Comolli, but also the son of former PSG coach Christophe Galtier, John Valovic-Galtier. In the court's sights: a Lyon company, Score Agencies. It was founded by a former distinguished football player, trained at Olympique Lyonnais, and once president of the Bourg-en-Bresse club in Ain. At the helm, impeccable in his blue suit, his hair slicked back, David Venditelli defines himself as “an entrepreneur”like his father and grandfather before him. At the beginning of the 2000s, when the Internet was in its infancy, David Venditelli wanted to be a visionary, with an idea: to create a company in charge of the digital identity of football players.

“But I quickly realized that the economic model was difficult to implement”he explains. So, David Venditelli changes his mind. With an extensive address book in the world of football, particularly in Lyon, he decided to transform his company into a player agent company, always aimed at footballers. “I wanted to create a company truly dedicated to serving the interests of football players, he says. I wanted to provide all the services to a player thanks to our partners.

Seven million euros in turnover

At the helm, David Venditelli explains that he offers complete career management through his company, including on a non-sporting level. “I wanted to develop a brand”he emphasizes. The business is a success. Between 2018 and 2022, the company generates 7 million euros in turnover, thanks to lucrative contracts signed with renowned clients, such as Alexandre Lacazette. Before the investigators, the French international explained that David Venditelli was the one who managed his career, until his departure for Arsenal, like all the important players of the agency. In the press, David Venditelli is presented several times as a player agent. When David Venditelli officially withdraws from his company because of his new role as manager of the Bourg-en-Bresse club, another pillar of the agency takes care of the famous striker. According to Alexandre Lacazette, it is a certain Jérémy Sutter, former teammate of David Venditelli, recruited in 2008 within Score Agencies. The agency also calls on John Valovic-Galtier to manage this client portfolio.

But there is a catch. None of them have the appropriate license issued by the French Football Federation, the only official certification which authorizes professionals to claim to be players' agents. David Venditelli tried to pass this exam, but to his great surprise he failed. He challenged this decision, to no avail. “I realized it was better for me to try to grow my business than to try to fight.”he says at the bar, posing as an advisor. If he did not correct the journalists, nor the players who designated him as an agent, it was because “convenience”.

For his part, lacking any diploma, with only a short career as a professional footballer followed by another in sales in the Lyon region, Jérémy Sutter had been hired as “administrative and commercial development manager”for remuneration which could have been around 25,000 euros per month. Initially, Jérémy Sutter was hired by David Venditelli to “take care of extra-sporting matters.” However, the investigation revealed his involvement in negotiations with clubs concerning the future of players in his charge, notably discussing their remuneration. “When you call someone three or four times a week about real estate investments, and they tell you about their match, of course you talk”he minimizes at the bar, quite annoyed.

“Official agent”

And for good reason: the agency officially has only one player agent affiliated with the FFF, a certain Alexandre Bonnefond. According to investigators, the man has little contact with the players, and seems to be nothing more than a simple legal enforcer who intervenes after the action of other members of the company such as Jérémy Sutter or David Venditelli with the players and clubs. From there to thinking that he is only a nominee for agents lacking legal qualifications, this is the step that the magistrates in charge of the investigation have taken. In a negotiation concerning an agency player coveted by a Breton club in the middle of the transfer window, Jérémy Sutter is preparing an email to this club. He sends it to Alexandre Bonnefond, so that he can copy and paste it under his signature as an agent officially recognized by the federation, and therefore legally the only person able to act in this way.

“Bonnefond is the official agent who intervenes at the time of conclusion of contracts, believes before investigators Alexandre Lacazette. I’ve only seen him a few times.” Behind the trial arises the question of the exact functions of a players' agent in French football. Matchmaker, advisor or legal aid? All morning this Monday, the defense argued for referral to the Court of Cassation, on the basis of a priority question of constitutionality, on the grounds that the exact answer to this question was too imprecise in the law. An argument quickly swept aside by the court. This Tuesday will be devoted to the hearing of John Valovic-Galtier. The defendants face up to a million euros fine and ten years in prison.


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