This article refers to the following FIFA regulations:
- Articles 16 and 18 of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations
Table of contents
The FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) govern the representation relationship between football agents and clients, including their conduct and licensing obligations, subject to the temporary suspension of specified provisions on reporting, multiple representation and submissions.
A FIFA football agent licence is issued for an indefinite period and is personal to its holder, so it cannot be assigned, sold, shared, loaned or transferred to another individual, agency or company.
Responsibilities when working with a client
Football agents must act in their clients’ best interests, avoid conflicts of interest and sign a valid written representation agreement with the client before providing services. The agreement must meet the applicable content, duration and renewal requirements, including additional safeguards where the client is a minor.
Football agents must disclose material information to clients, including conflicts of interest and written offers, and ensure that contracts resulting from their services include the agent’s name, licence number and signature, together with the client’s name.
Article 16 prohibits agents from inducing a player or coach to terminate an employment contract without just cause, offering undue benefits to obtain business or circumventing regulatory requirements. Its specified upload, reporting and disclosure obligations are covered by the temporary suspension of FFAR provisions.
Responsibilities of clients
Before signing a representation agreement, clients must verify that the football agent holds a valid FIFA licence. Scanning the QR code on the digital licence card opens the FIFA agent platform’s licence-validation page, where the football agent’s identity, licence number and status can be checked. Where a minor is involved, the additional authorisation to represent minors must also be verified.
Clients may request information about the services provided, a copy of the representation agreement and a schedule of payments made to the football agent for a transaction. They must fulfil their contractual obligations, including payment of agreed service fees under the applicable arrangements, subject to the current regulatory position.
Clients must not engage unlicensed individuals to provide football agent services, interfere with an individual’s choice of football agent or participate in prohibited arrangements or conflicts of interest. They must cooperate with competent bodies and report breaches under the applicable framework, including suspected unlicensed activity.
Providing services internationally and through an agency
A FIFA licence authorises an individual to provide football agent services worldwide, subject to applicable national law and national football agent regulations. Member associations may impose additional registration conditions or require agents to agree to be bound by their regulations before operating in the territory.
A football agent may operate through an agency or company, although only licensed individuals may provide football agent services. Unlicensed employees and contractors may carry out administrative or support functions but may not provide football agent services or approach potential clients on the agency’s behalf. The football agent remains fully responsible for the conduct of the agency and its employees, contractors and representatives.
Maintaining eligibility and an active licence
Football agents must continue to meet the eligibility requirements and cooperate with FIFA’s checks throughout the licence period. Although the notification requirement for information affecting eligibility in Article 16 paragraph 2(j)(vi) is temporarily suspended, the underlying eligibility condition remains in force.
Maintaining an active licence also requires payment of the annual fee and completion of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements; failure to meet the continuing licensing conditions can result in suspension or withdrawal.
Accessing the FIFA agent platform and digital licence
The FIFA agent platform provides access to licence management, fee payments and CPD. The digital licence card can be downloaded from the “Licence” area by selecting “Download licence”; this should be done on a computer, allowing time for the QR code to generate.
Technical assistance is requested through a support ticket in the platform’s Help Centre. The ticket should identify the affected step and error and include relevant screenshots; replies and follow-up correspondence are managed on the platform. Problems that prevent account access can be reported to legal.digital.support@fifa.org.
Ethical recruitment and communication
FIFA’s ethical recruitment guidance recommends clear explanations of services, fees and contract terms, realistic information about career opportunities, and sufficient time for players and families to consider an agreement. Agents should avoid pressure and exaggerated promises, protect confidential personal information and document significant communications and decisions, while considering the player’s welfare and education alongside sporting development.
The Ethical Recruitment Guide is supported by an Ethical Decision-Making Framework, an Ethical Recruitment Checklist, a Football Agents Code of Conduct and an Ethical Communication Guide. These materials support professional practice and should be read alongside the applicable regulations and their current implementation status.