AFL player agent Kif Chowdhury has been fined $13,000 and issued a final reprimand for a series of breaches.
The Enrichd Sports Management agent's conduct, dating back to breaches last year, has seen him earn the scrutiny of the Agents' Accreditation Board (AAB).
Chowdhury has been handed three fines totalling $7,500, $2,500 and $3,000, the latter having been suspended for relating to breached from 2024.
The following causes of the AFLPA Regulations Governing Accredited Agents were found to have been breached:
- Clauses 12 and 15.3 of the Regulations by using the confidential information and intellectual property of a third party (namely, a club's Hudl Sportscode account and system) to access footage of a player to share with another party in an unauthorised manner. Clause 12 of the Regulations obliges an Accredited Agent not to disclose confidential information and Clause 15.3 provides that an “Accredited Agent must not act dishonestly … in any dealings with any other person, body or football club in the course of representing a Player…”;
- Clause 15.3 of the Regulations on a further occasion by using the confidential information and intellectual property of a third party (again, a club's Hudl account and system) to access footage of a player to display on social media. The AAB imposed a fine of $7,500 for these two breaches; and,
- Clause 18.1.5(f) by contacting the parent/legal guardian of a young player who had set their status as “no approaches at this time” on the AFLPA Agents' Portal, meaning that they are not to be approached by an Accredited Agent as a prospective client. The AAB imposed a fine of $2,500 for this breach.
The AFLPA ha stated that if Chowdhury is found to have breached the regulations again prior to the end of September 2027, then the ability to revoke his accreditation will come into consideration.
"Given Mr Chowdhury's previous breaches, the AAB decided to issue Mr Chowdhury with a final reprimand on the condition that, if he is found to have breached the Regulations again before 30 September 2027 or fails to comply with the sanctions imposed, the AAB will meet to consider the revocation of Mr Chowdhury's accreditation," an AFLPA statement attributed to the AAB read.
"All fines imposed upon Accredited Agents by the AAB are paid to a nominated charity approved by the AFLPA.
"The AFLPA and the AAB take this opportunity to reiterate the importance of all Accredited Agents complying with the Regulations, including by maintaining the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct such as the protection of confidential information and data. In particular, Accredited Agents are not permitted to access player Hudl accounts or other employee portals without the express written authorisation of the player's club. The AAB will treat any breaches of this directive with the utmost seriousness.
"The Regulations deliberately regulate how and when Accredited Agents may approach young players in the talent pathway for the purposes of discussing their representation. The Regulations exist to protect the rights and wellbeing of those players as children, allow them to focus on other key priorities including their schooling and education, and help them freely decide their representation when they are ready to do so."
In a statement provided to Zero Hanger, Chowdhury outlined the processes that led to his breaches.
"A key part of our role as player agent's is to promote the players we represent. I cut up some vision of a player for the purposes of promoting them," Chowdhury said.
"I have cooperated fully with the Player's Association throughout this process and I now understand that as manager's we shouldn't be accessing club platforms irrespective of the honest and genuine intentions behind these actions.
"I had initially followed all the set processes when it comes to approaching players. I had contact with the player's family after following all AFLPA's protocols. I had reached out early on in the year, with full respect to the protocols. I followed up via a text message to the player's parent, respectfully asking if they would still like to meet with us to discuss player management; between my first point of contact and the second touch point months later, the player had shut down their portal".
"I have always and will continue to be a strong and passionate advocate for the players that I represent. I am fully committed to working with the AFL Players Association and take all matters raised with the utmost seriousness."
