What is a football agent service. It sounds like a simple question, but one that not many people can answer. Not even those that have recently passed the FIFA Football Agent exam can give you a clear answer.

So, what exactly is a football agent service, and what do you need to be licensed to deliver them for a player, coach or club?

• Provide advice on, and assistance with negotiation and conclusion of transfer and employment contract (remuneration, release clauses, payment structures, bonuses, benefits)
• Finding a job placement for a player / coach
• Facilitating transfers of player or coaches between clubs
• Acting as an intermediary to maintain good relationships between a club and player / coach
• Acting as an intermediary between clubs in a transaction
• Organising and facilitating a trial
• Performing any communication relating to the transfer/employment of a player / coach
• Representing clients at meetings
• Introducing players / coaches to clubs / member associations / single-entity leagues with a view to a transaction
• Discussing terms of possible deals with clients
• Facilitating a transaction by discussing the availability of a player / coach with a club / member association or single-entity league
• Making arrangements for clubs to meet with player / coaches of other clubs

All of the above are classed as a football agent service. According to the FFAR you need to have a FIFA Football Agent Licence to perform a football agent service, and that would include promoting a player / coach to a club and organising and facilitating a trial. This could potentially mean that any player or coach that allows an unlicensed agent to recommend them to a team is in breach of the FFAR. Likewise, any club that acts on the information from an unlicensed football agent could find themselves in breach of FFAR.

Therefore the responsibility is placed on the players and clubs. If an individual is discovered (or reported) to be delivering football agent services without a FIFA Football Agent Licence, then they will be unable to apply for the FFAR examination for 24 months. 

How and if this is going to be enforced over the coming transfer windows is going to be fascinating. Is it even practical for FIFA to monitor?

I expect the answer to be, no. But it will be interesting to discover how the new FFAR and NFAR will shape the player representation industry in the coming years and demonstrate the value of being a FIFA Licensed Football Agent.

To learn more about the ‘Business of a FIFA Football Agent, and to receive training on how to pass the FIFA Football Agent Exam, please visit www.sportsbusinesseducation.com and Be Part of the Game!