Ousmane Dembélé’s agent Moussa Sissoko has escalated his long-running dispute with the French Football Federation (FFF) to the European Court of Human Rights.
Sissoko claims that the FFF has blocked him from earning fees as a registered agent in France, despite his decade-long professional relationship with Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner.
“I won’t give up, I want to show that I can work in France. I will be patient,” Dembélé told L’Équipe, underlining the support of players closely tied to Sissoko.
The Franco-Malian agent, also involved in managing Désiré Doué, says the current system has left him in professional limbo.
While Sissoko is recognised internationally, he is unable to legally practice as an agent in France due to the strict licensing requirements.
Unlike other European countries, the French system requires agents to pass an entrance exam and meet formal legal standards defined in Articles L. 222-5 to L. 222-22 and R. 222-1 to R. 222-42 of the French Sports Code.
“This situation is surreal,” said Sissoko’s lawyer, Matthieu Barandas.
“France cannot create reverse discrimination against its own citizens. The French system for regulating sports agents is completely anachronistic and deserves a total overhaul.
“I think Moussa’s situation is symptomatic of the inadequacy of the current legislation governing the activities of sports agents.
”The majority of licensed agents have no professional activity, while intermediaries whose professional qualities are unanimously recognized by market players are not authorized to practice their profession in France.”
Sissoko’s legal challenges have so far failed in French courts, leaving the European Court of Human Rights as the next avenue to contest the restrictions.
The outcome could have implications for players with West African roots who rely on Franco-African agents to manage their careers, especially those like Dembélé, whose Malian and Mauritanian-Senegalese heritage underscores the wider African connection in European football.
Dembélé, born in France to a Malian father and a Mauritanian-Senegalese mother, remains a key figure in illustrating how African talent is often intertwined with European systems.
Sissoko’s case highlights the tension between international practice and domestic regulation, and its resolution could influence how agents of African descent operate across the French football landscape.
Observers note that if Sissoko’s appeal succeeds, it could open doors for more agents of African origin to work in France, potentially reshaping the management landscape for players with strong West African ties.
