The transfer window – why are footballers bought and sold, rather than treated as employees?

David De Gea of Manchester United … why can't he just seek employment elsewhere? Photograph: Page Im
 David De Gea of Manchester United … why can’t he just seek employment elsewhere? Photograph: Page Images/Rex Shutterstock
As the latest transfer window closes, I wonder why are footballers bought and sold rather than being treated as employees, subject to the usual codes and conditions of service as any other employee? Under such a system, which operates in almost every other field of employment, a footballer would be free to apply for any vacancies that may become available with another employer, and would be subject to a disciplinary process, including verbal and written warnings, which could lead in extreme cases to dismissal, if their conduct or ability did not meet the reasonable expectations of their employer.
David Parish, Selattyn, Oswestry, Shrops

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