The new regulation for players’ agents

The never-ending battle between FIFA and the players agents continues. Over the last few years, the international federation has attempted to limit the influence of player agents while also attempting to reduce the cost of commissions, which have recently become one of the major expenditure elements for clubs, particularly high-level clubs.

As a result, FIFA has created a new regulation for the agent profession, which will go into effect in June 2023. So here’s what will change compared to the current situation:

The prohibition of multiple representation
Commission limit
The reintroduction of the register
The Football Forum and the agents

The prohibition of multiple representation

The prohibition on multiple representation is perhaps the most important point.In fact, there are quite a few cases in which an agent represents not only the player but also the club that sells and/or buys, thus earning commissions from all parties involved. From June 2023, this will no longer be the case, with the agent having to represent only one of the three positions.

The only exception is the possibility that an agent represents both the player and the selling team, but always on the condition that multiple representation is specifically accepted by both parties, which, therefore, in terms of regulation, can no longer be “imposed.”

Since the payment must go through FIFA’s clearing house, it can only be made by the agent’s client and not by anyone else involved in the negotiation.

Commission limit

From an economic point of view, the big change instead comes with a precise limit on commissions. Depending on the litigant represented, there is a cap on how much the attorney can earn.

If the agent is working for the player, the maximum commission is 5% for salaries of less than €200,000. If the salary is more than €200,000, the commission drops to 3%.

The values are the same even if the agent represents the club that buys the player. So, in the case of agreed-upon double representation, the highest commission is 10% if the salary is less than €200,000 and 6% if the salary is more than €200,000. When the agent instead represents the club that sells the player, the maximum commission allowed is 10% of the operation’s cost.

The reintroduction of the register

Lastly, the latest step toward making the job of agents more stable is the return of the register of agents, which requires a test and an annual fee to be paid.

FIFA, which over the last few decades, i.e., since the players’ agents began to have a certain influence on the market, has changed its mind several times, first by creating the register, then by abolishing the examination, and finally by allowing free representation.

The Football Forum and the agents

The goal is now (again) to write down the names of those who can actually work in the environment while also imposing legal and moral registration requirements.In fact, it will not be possible to become an agent if you have been convicted of serious crimes or if there are cases of conflict of interest.

In short, the conflict continues, with FIFA attempting to limit the influence of the agents, while they, paradoxically, believe they have little influence and have created Football Forum, an association imagined by the late Mino Raiola and on which, they will work constructively with the chosen heir Rafaela Pimenta, whose goal is to improve relations with other football interest groups.