The renowned football agent Jonathan Barnett is embroiled in a legal battle as he faces grave accusations of human trafficking, torture, and rape. A civil lawsuit filed in a California district court alleges that Barnett “trafficked” a woman from Australia to the UK in 2017, subjected her to six years of “torture” as a “sex slave,” and sexually assaulted her over 39 times. The complaint also claims Barnett made “repeated threats to her life and the lives of her minor children.”
These allegations extend to Barnett’s former employer, the Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which is accused of facilitating Barnett’s alleged actions by using its employees to help maintain the complainant as a “sex slave.” Both Barnett and CAA have categorically denied all allegations, with Barnett stating through his lawyers, “The claims made in [the] complaint against me have no basis in reality and are untrue. We will vigorously defend this lawsuit through the appropriate legal process. I am looking forward to being entirely vindicated and exonerated.”
Background on Jonathan Barnett
Jonathan Barnett, a prominent figure in sports management, has had a career spanning over four decades, representing top-tier football talents. He is perhaps best known for orchestrating Gareth Bale’s record-breaking £85.3 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid in 2013. Barnett has also represented other high-profile players such as Jack Grealish and Ivan Toney. He retired last year at the age of 75.
The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous woman referred to as Jane Doe, alleges that Barnett “owned her” as a “sex slave” for six years, during which she was subjected to violent and abusive behavior. The complaint describes this as a case of “institutional abuse at the highest level,” implicating Barnett’s employers and associates in covering up his alleged actions.
Allegations Against CAA
According to the complaint, CAA “knew or should have known” about Barnett’s alleged behavior. The agency reportedly first learned of the allegations in January 2024, and Barnett subsequently left the company in February. CAA has denied any prior knowledge of the allegations, stating, “While the complaint attempts to connect these allegations to CAA’s business, Ms. Doe has never been an employee, consultant, or contractor of CAA, ICM, or Stellar, nor has she ever had any business connection to CAA, ICM, or Stellar.”
The lawsuit details Doe’s first encounter with Barnett in the mid-1990s and their reconnection in 2017 through LinkedIn. Doe claims Barnett persuaded her to move to London with her children, promising to cover their living and educational expenses. Upon her arrival, she alleges that Barnett raped her during their first meeting in a London hotel, asserting control over her and threatening her life if she reported the incident.
Details of the Complaint
The complaint further alleges that Barnett engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior, including punishment beatings and tying Doe up overnight without food or water. It also claims that CAA made substantial payments to Doe between 2017 and 2023, raising questions about the nature of these transactions and the company’s awareness of Barnett’s alleged actions.
“Given that Ms Doe was not a CAA Stellar athlete or sports agent, this conduct should have raised numerous red flags for Defendants to inquire into the nature of these payments and the relationship the company had to the persons they were tasked with assisting,” the complaint states.
Barnett founded the Stellar Group in 1992, initially representing clients like former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara. The company was sold to ICM Partners in 2020, which was later acquired by CAA in 2022, merging two of the world’s largest talent agencies.
Legal Proceedings and Implications
Barnett and CAA have 20 days to respond to the allegations by filing a response in court. The case raises significant questions about the responsibilities of talent agencies in monitoring the conduct of their agents and the potential for systemic abuse within the industry. Legal experts suggest that the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the sports management sector, particularly in terms of accountability and safeguarding measures.
As the legal process unfolds, the sports world watches closely, with many awaiting further developments that could reshape the landscape of sports agency practices. The case underscores the importance of transparency and ethical conduct in an industry where power dynamics can often overshadow individual rights and protections.