I don’t doubt that agents practice it and push the rules but they are still the ‘rules’. Remember SUFC are claiming no contact made but media saying some kind of deal between illi and OM has been made, apparently.
“Tapping up
Currently, under FIFA and FA transfer rules, if a club wants to procure the services of a player registered with another club, they must speak directly with that club and not to the player or his representatives. The player and his representatives will only be brought in for discussions with the potential purchasing club once the two clubs have agreed a fee.
Article 22 of the FIFA Players’ Agents Regulations prohibits a player’s agent from approaching any player who is under contract to a club with the aim of persuading him to terminate his contract prematurely or to violate any obligations stipulated in the employment contract. It shall be presumed, unless established to the contrary, that any players’ agent involved in a contractual breach committed by the player without just cause has induced such breach of contract.
Section C1 of the FA rules, meanwhile, prohibits a player who is under contract, or his agent, from talking to other clubs, or being approached by other clubs, without the consent of the player’s current club.”
the article also states that tapping up still happens and high profile cases where the guilty parties have been prosecuted has occurred.
Essentially it is a safety net to protect the clubs ‘assets’. If OM and agent have agreed personal terms before speaking to the club then ‘rules’ have been breached.