Lorna McLelland, a former player liaison officer at Aston Villa, said that, despite calls for change after Sala’s death, not enough had been done.
While most clubs have a player welfare system in place, there are no set standards for what the role should involve and there is often overlap with the work of agents and intermediaries.
McLelland, who founded the National Association of Player Welfare Officers, said she believed “mandated areas of responsibility and a prescribed modus operandi should be put in place in each and every club”.
“In terms of movement of players, central to that is money…it’s always the case and it’s still a little bit of a wild west.
“I’m really quite shocked that not much has been put in place for this but, as we know, football is a complicated world and there needs to be a lot more change than there has been to date.”
Jonathan Booker, a former agent now working in sports mediation, said there had been a “flurry of activity” in player welfare and duty of care following the tragedy, but this had not been sustained.
“I’d like to see set standards, if not accreditation, for player care and welfare roles in all clubs, not just the Premier League, which at the moment often sees roles overlap and it’s not always obvious who’s responsible for what,” he said.
The former general secretary of the Association of Football Agents added: “There’s too much risk of inexperienced and under-confident staff in such roles being railroaded by some players and even agents – for example, a young player wanting to buy a high-performance car they’re not equipped to drive safely.”
The Professional Footballers Association said it recognised transfer windows could be stressful and pressurised for players and their families, adding awareness of player wellbeing was “growing within the game”.
“It is vital that players have the right people around them at times like this,” it said.
“A player should always feel that their career is in their hands and that a transfer – a major career decision – is their choice.”
The Football Association (FA) said professional football leagues and clubs were primarily responsible for players’ wellbeing.
A spokesman added: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Emiliano Sala following this tragic incident.”
Both the FA and the English Football League said CAA guidance about air travel had been shared with clubs in the wake of the tragedy and was periodically redistributed around transfer periods.
