Yes. Premier League scouts have to be on a register kept by the board, and a club has five days to apply after taking one on. After that window, an unregistered scout cannot be employed unless an application has been made and is still undecided.
How the register works
The board keeps the register, and a club must apply within five days of employing or engaging a scout.
The rule also covers the end of that relationship. When a club stops employing a scout, it has five days to notify the board, and the scout's name is then removed from the register.
The restriction on clubs is direct. Outside the five-day window, a club may not employ a scout who is not registered, except where an application has already been submitted and has not yet been decided.
What a scout's identification must show
These are the required elements of a scout's formal identification.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| The club | The name of the club that issued it |
| A signature | The signature of one of that club's authorised signatories |
| A photograph | A photograph of the scout |
| The scout's signature | The scout's own signature |
Each club must issue that formal identification to every registered scout. While on duty, the scout must carry it at all times and produce it on demand.
What a scout can and cannot do
A scout's function is to identify to his club players it may want to open negotiations with. The negotiation itself is outside the scout's remit.
Two prohibitions matter most. A scout may not conduct those negotiations himself, and he may not make promises or offer inducements to any player he approaches.
Scouts are employed by and represent their clubs, and they count as officials bound by the rules. They must know the rules, especially the youth development rules and the rules on when their club may approach a player registered elsewhere; any scout who comes into contact with children must also follow the club's safeguarding policies and the league's guidance for safer working practice.
Personal conduct duties go further than carrying ID. A scout is responsible for the conduct of his contacts and is liable for any act or omission by a contact that breaches the rules. He must also disclose any direct or indirect interest in a transaction involving the club and account to the club for any benefit he receives from it.
FAQ
What is a Premier League scout actually allowed to do?
He identifies players his club may want to open negotiations with. He does that as a club official, so his work sits inside the same rule framework that binds the club.
Can a scout offer a player a contract or make promises?
No. A scout cannot conduct the negotiations himself, and he cannot make promises or offer inducements to a player he approaches.
What ID does a Premier League scout carry?
He carries formal identification issued by his club once he is registered. While on duty, he must have it with him at all times and show it when asked.