Based on criminal proceedings initiated at the beginning of 2025, the Competition Authority investigated an offer made by Aivar Pohlak, representative of NGO Jalgpalliklubi FCF Jalgpallikool, to NGO Mart Poomi Jalgpallikool to enter into an anti-competitive agreement. Following amendments to the Penal Code that came into force on 6 July 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office terminated the criminal proceedings by order and forwarded the materials to the Competition Authority for decision on misdemeanour or competition supervision proceedings.
The Competition Authority deemed it necessary to address all market participants with a recommendation to terminate inter-club cooperation and agreements that contain restrictions and/or prohibitions on poaching and recruiting coaches and football players, and to avoid entering into such agreements in the future. Legal entities providing football training services are undertakings within the meaning of the Competition Act, therefore competition law rules apply to football clubs, including the prohibition on entering into anti-competitive agreements, which are supervised by the Competition Authority.
The Competition Authority emphasises that employees and football players have the right to choose their workplace according to their wishes and opportunities. Agreements prohibiting the poaching and recruitment of employees and players have long-term negative effects on both working and salary conditions as well as the entire market, which is why they are strictly prohibited by law. The Competition Authority may impose fines for violations of the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements, concerted practices, and decisions by associations of undertakings of up to 10 (ten) per cent of the undertaking’s or association of undertakings’ total worldwide turnover.
The Competition Authority’s recommendation can be found on its website.
The Competition Authority welcomes information about possible violations of the Competition Act. Please contact the Competition Authority at [email protected] or report violations anonymously through its tip portal.
The Competition Authority conducts state supervision in the fields of competition, electricity, natural gas, district heating, postal services, public water supply and sewerage, railways, aviation, and ports, and prevents unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain. The Authority falls under the area of government of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs.