Being a footballers' representative has changed: being an agent now means holding a FIFA licence

What changed

Between 1 April 2015 and 2023, no licence was needed to act as an intermediary in football: registering as an intermediary with the national association was enough. The FIFA Football Agent Regulations, approved by the FIFA Council on 16 December 2022, brought back the licence requirement, now with an exam, eligibility requirements and continuing professional development.

The articles on how to obtain the licence have applied since 9 January 2023. The rest has applied since 1 October 2023: ‘Only a Football Agent may perform Football Agent Services’ (article 11.1).

How it is obtained

A natural person becomes a football agent (article 4):

• by submitting a complete licence application on the FIFA Agent Platform;
• by meeting the eligibility requirements;
• by passing the exam set by FIFA;
• by paying an annual fee to FIFA.

According to FIFA's frequently asked questions, the exam has 20 multiple-choice questions and is taken online in English, French or Spanish. The annual fee was USD 600 and, from 1 October 2024, USD 300 for the following periods. To keep the licence, the agent must meet the continuing professional development requirement every year (article 9): 20 credits per year.

The licence is issued for an indefinite period, is strictly personal and non-transferable, and entitles the holder to provide agent services worldwide (article 8).

Who cannot be an agent

Article 5 sets out the eligibility requirements. Among others, the applicant must not have been convicted of offences related to organised crime, drug trafficking, corruption, bribery, money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, match manipulation, misappropriation of funds, forgery or sexual abuse, nor have been suspended for two years or more, disqualified or struck off by a regulatory authority or sports body for ethical or professional misconduct.

Nor may the applicant be an official or employee of FIFA, a confederation, a member association, a league or a club, or hold, personally or through their agency, an interest in a club, an academy or a league.

What to check before signing

• That whoever represents you holds a valid FIFA licence. FIFA no longer publishes an open directory: the agent can show you their digital credential from the Agent Platform.
• That the representation agreement is in writing (article 12.1) and, if you are a player, does not exceed two years; automatic renewal is null and void (article 12.3).
• That the agreement contains, at a minimum, the names of the parties, the duration, the agent's fee, the services provided and the signatures (article 12.7).
• That the agent has informed you in writing that you may seek independent legal advice before signing (article 12.4).
• If the player is a minor, that article 13 is complied with: the agreement is signed by the minor and their guardian, and the agent must have completed FIFA's course on minors.

Employees or contractors of an agency who are not football agents may not provide agent services or approach a potential client to sign a representation agreement (article 11.3).