• Representing minors as a FIFA football agent is one of the most sensitive and tightly regulated parts of the profession. It therefore comes with additional requirements that do not apply when dealing with adults.

The protection of minors from exploitation and other risks is one of the major concerns of the football transfer system. This is particularly relevant considering how vulnerable young players can be when navigating a system involving clubs, agents and other stakeholders.

For an agent representing a minor as a FIFA football agent, the starting point is understanding Article 13 of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR). The provision sets out the rules governing when an agent can approach a minor and the requirements that must be met before the agent can represent them.

What does Article 13 of the FFAR say about representing minors?

Article 13 establishes additional requirements for representing minors as a FIFA football agent. These requirements cover when an agent can make contact with a minor, the consent that must be obtained and the education an agent must complete before representing a minor.

The rules also apply to an agent representing a club in a transaction involving a minor. This means the minors-related requirements are relevant to both sides of an applicable transaction.

When can a FIFA football agent approach a minor?

A FIFA football agent cannot approach a minor at any point simply because the player is considered a promising talent.

Under Article 13, an agent may approach a minor, or the minor’s legal guardian in relation to football agent services, only within six months before the minor reaches the age at which they may sign their first professional contract under the law applicable in the country or territory where the minor will be employed.

This makes the timing of an approach an important part of the FIFA rules for representing minors. An agent must consider not only the player’s age but also the applicable national law determining when that player may enter into their first professional contract.

Legal guardian consent is required

The timing of an approach is only one part of the requirement.

Before approaching a minor, a football agent must obtain the prior written consent of the minor’s legal guardian.

A representation agreement involving a minor must also be co-signed by the minor’s legal guardian, in accordance with the law applicable in the country or territory where the minor will be employed.

This means that representing a minor is not simply a matter of signing a standard representation agreement with the player. An approach may only be made once prior written consent has been obtained from the minor’s legal guardian.

FIFA minors CPD course and accreditation

Another important requirement concerns education.

A football agent who wants to represent a minor, or a club in a transaction involving a minor, must first successfully complete FIFA’s mandatory CPD course on minors and pass the assessment to obtain the relevant accreditation.

The minors course forms part of FIFA’s continuing professional development programme for licensed football agents.

The accreditation obtained after successfully completing the designated minors course is valid for three years. It can then be renewed by retaking the designated course.

This distinction is relevant for anyone looking into becoming a FIFA agent representing minors. Holding a FIFA football agent licence does not, by itself, satisfy the specific education requirement for representing minors. The agent must successfully complete the designated Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course on minors available on the FIFA Agent Platform.

Comply with the national laws

Article 13 does not operate in isolation; it is connected to the applicable national laws.

A football agent representing a minor must therefore comply with any requirements for the representation of minors established by the applicable law in the country or territory where the minor will be employed. The six-month approach window under Article 13 is one part of this framework.

Checking the applicable national rules, not just the FFAR, should therefore be part of the compliance process before approaching or representing a minor as a FIFA football agent.

The Minor Representation Agreement must meet the minimum requirements

The general requirements for a representation agreement under Article 12 of the FFAR still apply.

The agreement must include the required details, including the names of the parties, duration where applicable, service fee, nature of the services and signatures.

For a minor, the agreement must also be co-signed by the legal guardian as provided by the applicable law.

Checklist for a FIFA football agent before signing a representation agreement with a minor

Before representing a minor, an agent should establish that:

• The approach falls within the six-month period permitted under the applicable national law.
• The minor’s legal guardian has provided prior written consent before the minor is approached.
• The agent has successfully completed FIFA’s mandatory CPD course on minors and passed the required assessment.
• The agent holds the relevant minors accreditation, which is valid for three years.
• The representation agreement is properly executed and co-signed by the minor’s legal guardian as provided by the applicable law.
• The representation agreement meets the minimum requirements under Article 12 of the FFAR.
• The applicable national law and any additional requirements have been satisfied.

Frequently asked questions about representing minors as a FIFA football agent

Can a FIFA football agent represent a minor?

Yes. A FIFA football agent can represent a minor, but the agent must follow the specific requirements under Article 13 of the FFAR.

How old does a minor have to be before a FIFA agent can approach them?

There is no single fixed age under Article 13. The relevant point is the age at which the minor may sign their first professional contract under the applicable law where they will be employed. The approach is permitted only within the six months before that age is reached.

Does a football agent need parental consent to represent a minor?

Yes. The agent must obtain prior written consent from the minor’s legal guardian before approaching the minor. The representation agreement must also be co-signed by the legal guardian as provided by the applicable law.

Does a FIFA football agent need a special qualification to represent minors?

Yes. The agent must successfully complete FIFA’s designated mandatory CPD course on minors and pass its assessment to obtain the relevant accreditation. The accreditation is valid for three years and can be renewed by retaking the designated course.

What if the national association has a stricter rule?

An agent must comply with the applicable national requirements in addition to the FIFA framework. Article 13 requires agents to comply with requirements for representing minors established by the applicable law in the country or territory where the minor will be employed.

What happens if I approach a minor too early or without guardian consent?

The agent may face disciplinary or regulatory consequences for failing to comply with the applicable requirements. The specific consequences will depend on the applicable FIFA and national regulatory framework.

The bottom line

Representing minors carries heightened responsibility. While compliance with Article 13 provides an important regulatory baseline, it is not the entirety of responsible representation.

There are still other FIFA regulations and safeguarding requirements that agents must understand when working with minors.

This reflects FIFA’s recognition that working with minors means dealing with young people whose development extends beyond their football careers. An agent must therefore consider the player’s welfare, development and interests alongside the commercial aspects of representation.

To support families navigating these issues, FIFA launched its Parents’ Education on Football Handbook in 2026. The handbook provides parents with regulatory guidance and practical tools designed to help them make informed decisions that prioritise the welfare, integrity and long-term development of young players.

If you are a parent in doubt or an agent in need of clarification, you can schedule a consultation with us. At BallBusiness, we represent and provide guidance on transfers involving minors.

Preparing for the 2027 FIFA Football Agent Exam?

Anyone preparing to write the 2027 FIFA Football Agent Exammust possess a rigorous and thorough understanding of the FIFA materials on the protection of minors, of which Article 13 of the FFAR is an important part.

At BallBusiness, we have developed resources to help candidates prepare effectively for the exam.

Our preparation course breaks down the key FIFA regulations and concepts covered in the exam for easier memorisation and understanding. Our 400 Most Common FIFA Agent Exam Questions gives you a simulation of the FIFA Agent Exam structure and helps you test your knowledge under exam-like conditions. You can also join our community of aspiring football agents to learn and prepare alongside others preparing for the exam. BallBusinness is the leading platform for anyone hoping to write the 2027 FIFA agent exam. We bring together structured learning, exam-focused questions and a community of aspiring agents to help you understand the regulations and prepare for exam day.