FIFA will enforce the full implementation of the FFAR, including the mandatory use of licensed football agents with a cap on service fees and new provisions to ensure the protection of minors.
The implementation includes the mandatory use of licensed agents and a cap on service fees, and follows an extensive consultation process; The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed the legality of the regulations; Approximately 4,500 licenses were issued to individuals who are now eligible to provide football agent services as of 1 October.
FIFA is due to fully implement the Football Agent Regulations following a long and inclusive consultation process involving players, clubs, leagues, member associations, and football agents themselves and their partial entry into force in January 2023.
A landmark CAS award has confirmed the legality, validity, and proportionality of the FFAR, and courts in Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland have rejected injunctions against the new rules, both at national and international levels.
As of 1 October, FIFA will enforce the full implementation of the FFAR, including the mandatory use of licensed football agents, the cap on service fees, and new provisions to ensure the protection of minors.
The only exception to the full implementation of the FFAR will be in Germany, where a preliminary injunction has been granted by a local court.
Following the first two exams and all the legacy license applications submitted so far, a total of approximately 4,500 licenses have already been issued.
Those who hold a license will be eligible to perform football agent services as of 1 October.
Unsuccessful applicants will have the opportunity to retake the exam in May and November 2024. FIFA will organize further exams in the coming years.
As part of the new regulations, potential disputes in connection with representation agreements entered into as of 1 October will be handled by the Agents Chamber of the Football Tribunal, thus ensuring that any conflicts concerning football agent services are resolved fairly and equally for all participants in the international transfer system.
FIFA believes that the FFAR provides a reasonable and proportionate framework to help resolve systemic failures in the player transfer system and wishes to underscore that the regulations have been universally recognized by football stakeholders and the most important political authorities in Europe.
