FIFA receives 6,586 applications for its novel FIFA football agent exam

FIFA stated it has received applications from 6,586 candidates coming from 138 member associations representing all confederations via the FIFA Agent Platform, to undertake the FIFA football agent exam scheduled for 19 April 2023.

NEW LICENSED AGENTS FRAMEWORK This comes within the novel FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR), which came into force in January 2023. This reflects a massive endorsement of FIFA’s new football agent legal framework from all those working in the football agency market.

RAISING THE STANDARD The introduction of the licensing system is a key component of the FFAR as it raises the professional and ethical standards for the profession of football agents, thus leading to an increase in the quality of the service they provide to their clients across the football industry.

KEEN INTEREST The statement read: “The significant number of applications we have received confirms that many individuals across the world are looking forward to working within the new regulatory framework,” said FIFA Chief Legal & Compliance Officer Emilio García Silvero “which will ensure basic service standards for football agents and their clients through well-defined rules and increased certainty,” added.

2023-24 LICENSING EXAMS FIFA has scheduled additional exams for 20 September 2023, as well as for May and November 2024. Following a transitional period, the use of licensed football agents will become compulsory from 1 October 2023.

Further details on the process required to become an agent are available in the “Agents” section on FIFA.com.

UNDERSTANDING FFAR It is an integral part of the Football Regulatory Subdivision, the “Agents Department” is primarily responsible for leading FIFA’s strategic project of the re-regulation of the football agent industry in accordance with FIFA’s blueprint strategy: The Vision 2020-23. The project started in late 2017 with consultations with member associations, stakeholders and agent organisations and has now been implemented with the approval of the new FIFA Football Agent Regulations.

STABILITY, SOLIDARITY, INTEGRITY The FFAR introduce basic international service standards for FIFA football agents and their clients, thus managing procedures relating to disputes involving Football Agents decided by the Agents Chamber of the Football Tribunal and the licence applications to become and remain a FIFA-licensed Football Agent. This includes the limitation of multiple representations to avoid conflicts of interest and the introduction of a cap on football agent fees, with the objective of reinforcing contractual stability, promoting solidarity, protecting the integrity of the transfer system and achieving greater financial transparency.

The obligation to only use licensed football agents will be implemented on Oct. 1, 2023.

How much does the FIFA licence fee cost and what does it cover?

According to FIFA, the annual licence fee to be paid to FIFA is USD 600, due by 30 September each year, as stipulated on the Agent Platform. It is to be paid electronically via the Agent Platform. It covers the full licence fee and ensures free access to the Agent Platform, FIFA’s continuing professional development (“CPD”) programme and the relevant dispute resolution procedures within the Agents Chamber of the Football Tribunal.

The member associations may not charge a football agent any registration fee, unless permitted to do so by national law.

Source Nadine Alsheikh Hassan – AIPS MediaA