DENMARK Trends and Developments Contributed by: Frederik Bruhn, Rasmus Theis Madsen, Robert Jønsson and Tim Krarup Nielsen, HortenDahl Law Firm
Regulations of minor football players in Denmark DBU has implemented strict national regulations to protect minor football players from early exposure and ensure that they are not forced into professional careers prematurely. In line with FFAR and FIFA’s Reg - ulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), DBU has adopted additional safeguards to govern the representation and transfer of minors. These meas - ures primarily focus on minimum age requirements, agent engagement restrictions, and prohibitions on premature contract negotiations. Under the national DBU Agent Regulations, DBU- licensed football agents who have completed the required FIFA CPD course on minors may only approach a player six months before the player turns 15 for the purpose of entering into a represen - tation agreement. This restriction aligns with FIFA’s approach but further strengthens national-level safe - guards by imposing clearer and earlier limitations on when agents can contact young players. DBU outlines additional protective measures, includ - ing: • a complete ban on player contracts for players under 15 years old; and • a prohibition on clubs contacting players under 14½ years old or their legal guardians regarding potential future contracts. Furthermore, a football agent may not receive a ser - vice fee when engaged to perform football agent ser - vices relating to a minor unless the relevant player is signing their first or subsequent professional contract in accordance with the law applicable in the country or territory of the member association where the minor will be employed. These measures reflect DBU’s commitment to youth player welfare and aim to curb undue pressure from clubs and agents, ensuring that young players can focus on their development without commercial influ - ences at an early stage. Challenges in enforcement and compliance However, in practice, these restrictions are not always followed. Unofficial discussions often take place
before the permitted timeframe, creating a grey area in compliance and enforcement. This raises concerns about undue pressure on young athletes, particularly as lucrative financial offers become more difficult to resist. With transfer fees reaching unprecedented levels, Danish football clubs will likely continue to capitalise on their strong youth development systems. However, stricter enforcement of player protection regulations could be essential to ensure that young players receive fair and ethical treatment in the transfer market. For clubs, agents and investors, navigating this evolv - ing regulatory landscape requires careful compliance with both Danish and FIFA transfer rules to maintain the integrity of the sport while benefiting from its A new financial reality is taking shape in Danish sports, and particularly in the football business, as clubs and commercial actors increasingly adopt risk manage - ment structures mirroring developments seen in inter - national football. With transfer fees now commonly paid through multi-year instalments and conditional bonuses, the focus is shifting from price alone to a more strategic assessment of credit risk. Clubs are seeking larger upfront fees or shorter inter - vals between instalments to reduce exposure. In some cases, the risk is priced directly into the total transfer amount, reflecting the growing concern over long- term payment reliability. Clear written confirmation of triggers – eg, match appearances, league positions or resale events – is becoming crucial, and sell-on clauses are increas - ingly important. These records are now viewed as a primary tool for preventing disputes years after a deal is signed. Precise scoping of payment mechanisms is emerging as standard practice. Key concepts are being drafted with increasing legal precision to avoid ambiguity, including: • what qualifies as an “official match”; growing commercialisation. Risk Management Model
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