Such enterprises could regulate the business with young players, restricting agents and encouraging investment but only under strict rules to protect players and leagues, transform stadia to make them more welcoming to true supporters, negotiate TV deals that fairly reward all participating clubs.

The rules conflicted with longstanding lethal force policies that restrict agents from shooting except in life-threatening situations.

Restricted free agents Restricted free agents (RFAs) are players who have three or fewer accrued seasons of service and whose contracts have expired.