FIFA Football Agents Regulations: Article-by-Article Summary
The FIFA Football Agents Regulation (RFAF) — December 2024 edition — is the rule governing the entire universe of international player representation. be an agent FIFAIf you are a player, coach or leader, you need to understand how it affects you.
The FRAF reintroduced the compulsory licensing system following the deregulation of 2015-2023, set limits to the commissions, regulated conflicts of interest, created the House of Agents within the FIFA Football Tribunal to resolve disputes, and imposed unprecedented transparency obligations.
This article is a practical summary of the 24 articles It does not replace reading the entire regulation — but it gives you a clear map of what it contains and where to find each topic.
- I. General rules — Arts. 1-3
- II. Become a football agent — Articles 4-10
- III. Exercise of a football agent — Arts. 11-17
- IV. Customer rights and obligations Article 18
- V. Dissemination and publication Article 19
- VI. Disputes — Article 20
- VII. Final and transitional provisions — Arts. 21-24
I. General rules (arts. 1-3)
Article 1 — Objectives
The FRAF seeks to regulate the profession of football agent worldwide, protect players (especially minors), ensure transparency in transactions, and raise professional standards in the representation industry.
Article 2 — Scope
The regulations apply to any person who provides representation services in football: licensed agents, their clients (players, coaches, clubs), and member federations. Transactions with an international dimension fall under the direct jurisdiction of FIFA.
Article 3 — National regulations
Member federations may adopt national regulations on agents, provided that they are compatible with the FRAF and do not contravene its provisions.
II. Becoming a football agent (arts. 4-10)
Article 4 — General provisions
The 4 mandatory steps: application through the platform, compliance with eligibility requirements, approval of the exam, and payment of the annual fee. Only natural persons — not companies.
Article 5 — Eligibility requirements
Article 6 — Procedure for examination
The format, frequency and dates of the exam are communicated by circulation. FIFA invites candidates who meet the eligibility requirements to take the exam only. Since 2025, it has been convened one review per year. The review 2026 Gives up online with remote surveillance.
Article 7 — License fee
The annual quota (currently USD 600) is communicated by circular and must be paid within 90 days of passing the examination. If it is not paid in time, the application is automatically declared invalid.
Article 8 — Licensing
Once all the requirements have been met, the General Secretariat grants the license and registers it in the Agent Platform. The agent is included in the public directory.
Article 9 — Continuous professional development (DPC)
A minimum of 20 appropriations In addition, the Commission will be able to assess the impact of the new system on the quality of training and the quality of the training. 60 daysEvery 10 years, the credits required are reduced by 25%.
Article 10 — Voluntary suspension or annulment
The agent may request the voluntary suspension or cancellation of your license through the platform.
III. Exercise of a football agent (arts. 11-17)
Article 11 — General provisions
Only licensed agents can provide representation services. Agents can operate through a agency (legal person), but the license is always personal. Unlicensed employees of the agency can only perform administrative tasks (secretary, meeting logistics, practical transfer issues — never contractual or financial negotiations).
Article 12 — Representation
| Appearance | Rule |
|---|---|
| Compulsory contract | To provide services, it is mandatory to sign a written representation contract with the client (player, coach or club). |
| Maximum duration | 2 years for contracts with players/trainers. The automatic renewal clauses are null and void. |
| Exclusivity | It may be exclusive or non-exclusive. An agent may not contact a client under an existing exclusive contract with another agent, except within 2 months prior to expiration. |
| Minimum requirements | Identity of the parties, duration, fees, nature of the services, signature of all parties. |
| Double representation | The agent may represent the player and the destination club in the same transaction (with the consent of both), but cannot represent the home club and the destination club At the same time. |
| Legal advice | Before signing, the agent must inform the player/trainer in writing that it is advisable to receive independent legal advice. |
Article 13 — Representation of minors
Special requirements: contact only 6 months before the minor can sign his first professional contract, consent of the legal guardian, and the agent must complete a compulsory DPC course on minors Infringement: fine + suspension of up to 2 years.
Article 14 — Fees: general principles
Fees are paid by the agent's client (not a third party). Exception: if the player earns less than USD 200,000 per year, the destination club can pay on his behalf. They are paid in quarterly instalments during the duration of the negotiated employment contract. Agents they can't charge fees for representing minors, unless they sign their first professional contract.
Article 15 — Limit of fees
| Client | Remuneration ≤ USD 200K | Remuneration > USD 200K |
|---|---|---|
| Person (player/trainer) | 5 % | 3 % (over surplus) |
| Destination club | 5 % | 3 % (over surplus) |
| Double representation (destination + person) | 10 % | 6 % (over surplus) |
| Club de origin (on transfer compensation) | 10 % Compensation for Transfer | |
Article 16 — Rights and obligations
The central article of the professional exercise. Agents must: act in the best interest of the client, avoid conflicts of interest, comply with FIFA regulations, complete the DPC, pay the annual fee, upload contracts to the platform within 14 days, and not participate in illegal or anti-ethical activities. They must also disclose their corporate structure if they operate through an agency.
Art. 17 — Continued compliance
Eligibility requirements (art. 5) and obligations under art. 16 apply permanently If you ever fail to comply, the license may be suspended or withdrawn.
IV. Customer rights and obligations (art. 18)
Article 18 — Recruitment of staff
Customers (players, coaches, clubs) only have to hire agents with valid license. Clubs cannot condition the hiring of a player to use a specific agent designated by the club. Players can negotiate without an agent if they wish.
V. Dissemination and publication (art. 19)
Article 19 — Disclosure obligations
Agents must be brought up on the platform within a period of 14 days: representation contracts, any customer contracts, fee payment information, income-sharing agreements, and any information affecting your eligibility. FIFA publishes a public directory of licensed agents and may publish aggregated data on commissions and transactions.
VI. Disputes (art. 20)
Article 20 — Jurisdiction
Disputes between agents and clients with international dimension are the responsibility of the Chamber of Agents FIFA Football Tribunal. Purely national disputes are the responsibility of the national dispute resolution bodies, if recognised by FIFA. Decisions may be appealed to the TAS.
VII. Final and transitional provisions (arts. 21-24)
Art. 21 — Penalties
Infringements of the FRAF are punishable under the FIFA Disciplinary Code. Sanctions may include fines, temporary suspension of the license, withdrawal of the license, and prohibition of football-related activities.
Article 22 — Transitional provisions
Representation contracts concluded before October 2023 remain in force until their natural maturity. New or renewed contracts after that date must comply with FRAF.
Article 23 — Pre-licensed agents
Officials licensed under earlier versions of the Regulation (1991, 1995, 2001, 2008) could apply for the new licence without examination before 30 September 2023, provided they met the eligibility requirements. They must complete 40 DPC credits per year for 5 years (double the normal) This window is now closed.
Article 24 — Recognition of national licensing systems
Countries with national sports agent licensing legislation may apply to FIFA for recognition of their system. If recognised, agents licensed under that legislation are exempted from examination, but must comply with the other FRAF requirements.
Visual summary: the structure of the FRAF
- Arts. 1-3: General framework — objectives, scope, relationship to national regulations
- Arts. 4-10: How to get the license — application, eligibility, examination, fee, DPC
- Arts. 11-13: How to exercise — representational services, contracts, minors
- Arts. 14-15: Fees — who pays, how they are calculated, limits by type of customer
- Art. 16: Rights and obligations of staff member — the most extensive and detailed article
- Art. 17: Ongoing compliance with requirements
- Art. 18: Customer obligations (players, coaches, clubs)
- Art. 19: Transparency — what information should be uploaded to the platform
- Article 20: Disputes — Football Court Chamber of Agents
- Arts. 21-24: Penalties, transitionals, prior licences, national systems
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- Conflicts of interest of the football agent: what to avoid
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- Differences between FIFA agent, intermediary and unlicensed representative
- RETJ explained article by article
This guide is based on the FIFA Football Agents Regulation (December 2024), the FRAF FAQ (March 2023), and the FRAF Implementation Information (January 2023). This guidance is informative and does not replace the reading of the full text of the regulation or the advice of a specialized lawyer.
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