When asked how big a problem the agent industry is in Swedish football, Andréas Sundberg is clear:
It is a very big problem, and the Swedish Football Association is not well equipped to deal with it.
Sundberg, a reporter on TV4's Football Channel, has been examining the agent industry for many years and in 2017 he made a well-received Kalla Fakta documentary, "Fotbollssyndikatet", where he examined the agents and the methods they use, including threats, financial bribes and match-fixing.
Highlighting Isak's record transfer
In his new book, Andréas Sundberg writes about the agency Universal, which has long collaborated with AIK. He highlights Alexander Isak's record transfer in 2017 to German giants Borussia Dortmund, where the Solna club received around 90 million kronor in transfer fees. At the time, Isak became the most expensive sale in the Swedish league.
When this agency started to establish itself in Stockholm, it began doing business with AIK. Robin Quaison was sold to Palermo and Nabil Bahoui to Saudi Arabia, two deals that strengthened the relationship between the parties. Then Alexander Isak moved to Dortmund, says Andréas Sundberg.
The boot to the union: "I would feel good"
But Universal's power over AIK was much greater than just transfers. Sundberg says that several sources have told us that the agency essentially had full authority over the club.
They were deeply rooted and controlled AIK. They were involved in making decisions. They were connected to academy coaches, scouts, the board, club managers and players. It was problematic.
Sundberg also believes that the Swedish Football Association needs to get better at mapping agent companies.
SvFF would do well to read up and know more about the people behind them and not just what the regulations look like. They need to understand that people are drawn to where the money is.
TT has contacted AIK's CEO Fredrik Söderberg.
