FIFA’s implementation of new Football Agent Regulations on the 9 January 2003, has sent shockwaves through the football business industry.

The regulations that will be fully implemented on the 1 October 2023, will end the role of intermediaries, and replaced (once again) with FIFA Licensed Agents.

It is likely that many intermediaries that have entered the game since 2015 will fall out of the game, because of FIFA’s examination requirements. Experience has shown that the FIFA Exam is a challenge. 20 questions, multiple choice to answer in an hour may sound easy, but with over 400 pages of study materials to consider, makes it a challenge.

One of the most common questions I’ve been asked this week, is how you can register for the FFAR Examination.

The good news is that the registration is quite simple. But you have first to discover your pathway to the licence and if you’d be eligible to apply.

ELIGIBILTY TO BECOME A LICENCED AGENT

 To apply to become a licenced Football Agent an individual will need to ensure:

1) You have never been convicted (or related settlement) of a criminal charge relating to:

• drug trafficking
• organised crime
• bribery
• money laundering
• tax evasion
• fraud
• misappropriation of funds
• match manipulation
• breach of fiduciary
• forgery
• legal malpractice
• sexual abuse,
• violent crime
• harassment
• child or vulnerable adult trafficking

2) In the 24 months prior to applying for a licence, you have never been found to be delivering Football Agent Services without the required licence (or registered intermediary).

3) You have never been suspended (for 2 years or more), disqualified, or struck off by a regulatory authority or sport’s governing body. This is in relation to rules relating to ethics and personal conduct.

4) You are not an official or employee of FIFA, a confederation, a member association, a league, a club, or a body that represents the interests of clubs and leagues.

5) If you are appointed or elected on to a panel representing the interests of football agent for any of those body, that will be allowed.

• You, or your agency, does not hold, an interest in a club, academy, league or Single-Entity League.
• 5 years before (and whist licenced) applying, you have never declared or been declared personally bankrupt.

6) Also, if you have been a majority shareholder, director or key office holder of a business that has been declared bankrupt, entered administration and/ or undergone liquidation you application will not be approved.

7) 12 months before the submission of an application, you have not held any interest in any entity, company or organisation the arranges or brokers sports betting activities (wager placed on outcome of a sporting event to win money)

If you meet the criteria above, then you will be eligible to apply to become a Licenced Football Agent. In our next article we will discuss which pathway you should take and the process, dates and materials you need to study to sit the examination.

If you are interested in receiving training for the FIFA Agent Exam, please complete the form below to register your interest, and to have an informal discussion with one of our team.

Alternatively please visit www.sportsagentresource.com to register.