The FIFA agent exam has become the gateway to professional football representation, marking a decisive break from the chaotic era of unregulated intermediaries. With the increasing number of football players and the huge amount of money involved in transfers, the services of football agents have become more essential than ever. It is therefore sacrosanct that the sector is largely regulated. This was the rationale behind the introduction of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations(FFAR) which came into force on 9 January 2023.
The Evolution of Football Agents From Legacy Agents to FIFA Exam Agents.
Football agents are an integral and necessary part of the football ecosystem, playing a crucial role in player representation. Before what we have today, the term “agents” has been used differently in the course of history, meaning different things to different people. To understand how the role of agents have changed over time, read the evolution of the football agent role.
Today, there are three types of football agents: Legacy Agents, National Agents and FIFA Exam Agents. Understanding this transition from legacy agents to today’s exam-based licensing system is crucial for grasping the status of each agent and the role that agents play in the sports industry.
The Era of FIFA Legacy Agents.
The term “legacy agents” commonly refers to those operating under FIFA’s 2015 deregulation, when the organization controversially abolished mandatory licensing( FIFA Players’ Agents Regulations adopted in 2008). This replaced “licensed agents” with “intermediaries.” The reason for this deregulation was the concern that the majority of the transfers were not managed by agents licensed by FIFA-licensed agents. According to Marco Villiger, FIFA’s then legal director, only 25-30 percent of transfers were handled by FIFA-licensed agents. More importantly, this was done to weaken the role and influence of agents in international football.
“We could make agents less important; the money paid today could stay in the sport,” Villiger said. “We will issue a set of requirements they (players) have to meet whenever they use an intermediary, who could be a lawyer, a family member, or other person whom we would endorse.”
This decision however opened the floodgates to anyone wishing to represent players or clubs in transfer negotiations, encouraging opportunistic newcomers with little understanding of football’s regulatory landscape. Within a year, the number of registered intermediaries increased tenfold.
One troubling example involved a forged letter attributed to former Chelsea midfielder Willian Borges, which circulated in the football market in 2018, falsely claiming he had been granted permission to seek a move away from Chelsea. The Brazilian international had to take to social media to set the record straight and confirmed he had instructed his lawyers to take action over the fraudulent use of his signature.
For vulnerable players, particularly young talents without proper guidance, it was disastrous. This trend saw a high increase in the number of unscrupulous intermediaries, especially in the developing countries, trapping young players into disadvantageous contracts. Likewise, conflicts of interest were common.
The Rise of FIFA National Agent.
With FIFA claiming it lacked the resources to effectively regulate agents, the implementation and enforcement of its standards were delegated to national football associations and their respective local regimes. For example, FA in England and FIGC in Italy. To qualify as an agent, the candidates must pass the country-specific examination covering domestic football regulations, contract law, labour law and ethical standards.
However, the lack of standardization across different national associations created a fragmented regulatory environment where an intermediary registered in one country might operate with entirely different standards and oversight than one registered elsewhere. Some do not even have a national association to regulate the activities of agents.
When it comes to transfers having international dimensions, an agent licensed in Norway, for example, representing a Spanish footballer would face complications. He may need to partner with agents in Spain or obtain a Spanish license, adding complexity and cost to international transactions.
The FIFA’s 2023 RegulatoryRevolution.
The deregulation was a “mistake,” according to Emilio GarcÃa Silvero, FIFA’s Chief Legal Officer.
In recognizing the problems created by deregulation and the limitations of purely national systems, FIFA introduced comprehensive new agent regulations that took effect in 2023, known as the FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR), which require agents to be licensed before they can provide football-related services.
“The introduction of the licensing system is a key component of the FFAR, as it raises the professional and ethical standards for the profession of football agents, thus leading to an increase in the quality of the service they provide to their clients across the football industry,” FIFA said in a statement.
Before an agent can obtain a FIFA football agent license, he must pass the FIFA agent exam.
The FIFA Agent Exam
One of the key changes introduced by the 2023 Regulations is the reintroduction of the FIFA exam, which agents must pass to obtain their license.
This FIFA exam consists of 20 multiple-choice questions, including both direct rule questions and scenario-based questions, with single or multiple correct choice style. If you’re interested in taking the FIFA exam, you can check out our FIFA agent course, which contains 400 Most Common FIFA Agent Exam Questions plus 25 Key Concepts to help you succeed.
The FIFA exam is introduced to ensure a baseline level of competence regardless of where an agent operates. After completing the examination, successful candidates will receive a FIFA license that enables them to work across borders, representing clients in international transfers without needing separate licenses in each country. However, this transition to this new system has not been without controversy. Some established agents have criticized the examination requirements as unnecessary barriers for experienced professionals, especially after the challenges faced in the June 2025 FIFA Agent Exam.
Challenges to the New FIFA Football Agent Regulations(FFAR).
concern raised is that the regulations weaken the bargaining power of football agents. The fee caps, for example, introduced for the first time a universal worldwide limit on the fees agents are allowed to charge their clients. This led to a preliminary injunction in the District Court of Dortmund and the suspension of several key provisions of the FFAR, such as the service caps, client-pays rules, and the FIFA Agent Chamber (Article 22).
Conclusion
The evolution from FIFA legacy agents to FIFA exam-based licensing reflects football’s broader maturation as a global industry. Agents operate in a market worth billions and a profession with that level of influence cannot function without clear standards and oversight. In Africa, the death of Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure who was lured into Ghana last month under false pretenses by someone posing as a football agent is a example why the sector needs a regulatory framework.
But, whether the provisions of the FFAR, such as fixing remuneration levels across the market, are necessary and proportionate to FIFA’s objectives or contrary to competition law remains to be seen. It’s worth noting that even the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) award rendered in July 2023 (CAS 2023/O/9370), which found that FFAR is compatible with both EU and Swiss competition law, still does not resolve all open questions. However, one thing is settled: the recognition of football agency as a profession. In an industry generating billions of euros annually, professional standards and regulatory oversight are not optional; they are necessary.
