Differences between FIFA agent, intermediary and unlicensed representative

In professional football, not every person who "represents" a player has the same legal status or the same regulatory consequences. Since October 2023, when theRFAF, the panorama changed radically: only agents withFIFA licensecan provide representation services. The old system of "middlemen" disappeared. And those who operate without a license expose themselves to sanctions — and also expose the players and clubs that hire them.

But in practice, there is still a lot of confusion. Many players — especially in South America — continue to work with people who present themselves as "representatives", "managers" or "advisors" without having a license. And many aspiring agents do not fully understand the difference between the previous system (intermediaries) and the current one (FIFA license).

In this article I explain the three figures, their regulatory differences, and what consequences working with each one has.

What this article covers

Licensed FIFA agent: who he is and what he can do
Intermediary: what it was and why it no longer exists
Unlicensed representative: what it is and what risks it generates
Comparative table: the 3 figures in detail
The story: from agent (pre-2015) to intermediary (2015-2023) to agent (2023+)
Consequences of operating without a license
Consequences for the player or club that hires a non-licensed
Family members as representatives: what the RFAF says
How to check if an agent is licensed

Licensed FIFA Agent

He is the only figure currently recognized by FIFA to providerepresentation servicesin professional football. It is a natural person (not a company) that met the 4 requirements of art. 4 of the RFAF: application, eligibility,examapproved, and annual fee paid.

Global reach
The FIFA license authorizes you to operate inany country in the world. You do not need to register with each federation separately (although some federations may require additional local registration for domestic transactions).

Indefinite validity
The license has no expiration date, as long as you meet ongoing obligations: $600 annual fee, continuing professional development (20 credits/year), and ongoing compliance with eligibility requirements.

Not transferable
The license ispersonal and non-transferable. It cannot be sold, assigned or inherited. If the agent retires, his or her license expires — it does not pass to a partner, employee, or family member.

The licensed agent can: negotiate employment contracts on behalf of players and coaches, negotiate transfers on behalf of clubs, sign representation contracts, collectcommissions, and operate through an agency (although the license always belongs to the individual, not the company).

Intermediary (2015-2023): the figure that no longer exists

Between April 2015 and September 2023, FIFA replaced the licensing system with aregistration of intermediaries. The difference was abysmal:

There was no exam.Any person with an "impeccable reputation" and no conflicts of interest could register as an intermediary with a member federation. Regulatory knowledge was not evaluated.

There was no global license.Registration was by federation. If you wanted to operate in Argentina and Spain, you had to register with both federations.

There was no limit on commissions.Although FIFA recommended a maximum of 3-10%, it was not mandatory. Some brokers charged 15%, 20% or more.

There were no continuing education requirements.Once registered, there was no obligation to upgrade or complete professional development courses.

The result was predictable: the market was saturated with people without experience or knowledge, commissions skyrocketed (multiplied by four compared to the pre-2015 era), and disputes between intermediaries, players and clubs multiplied without effective resolution mechanisms.

From October 1, 2023, the registration of intermediaries is no longer valid.Individuals who were registered as intermediaries were required to obtain a FIFA agent license (by passing the exam or through RFAF exemptions) to continue operating. Those who did not do so can no longer legally provide representation services.

Unlicensed representative: the current problem

An unlicensed representative is any person who provides representation services — negotiates contracts, brokers transfers, advises on transactions —without having the FIFA agent license. This includes:

Former intermediaries who did not obtain the license after October 2023
Relatives of the player (parents, brothers, uncles) acting as representatives without a license
Lawyers, accountants or consultants who negotiate football transactions without a license
Any person who presents themselves as the player's "manager", "advisor", "representative" or "manager" without being licensed

Operating without a license is a violation of the RFAFand can generate consequences for both the unlicensed representative and the player and the club that hires him. FIFA has investigated more than 1,600 cases and withdrawn more than 400 licenses for non-compliance in 2024 alone.

Comparative table

Appearance	FIFA Agent (2023+)	Intermediary (2015-2023)	Not licensed
Mandatory exam	Yes (75% to pass)	No	N/A
License	FIFA, world, indefinite	Registration by federation	None
Can you provide representation services?	Yes	No longer (expired)	No
Commission limit	3-10% according to RFAF (discontinued; market standard ~10%)	There was no mandatory limit	N/A (cannot collect)
Continuous training	20 credits/year required	No	N/A
Eligibility requirements	Strict and permanent (art. 5 RFAF)	Minimums (reputation + declaration)	None
Jurisdiction for disputes	Chamber of Agents of the FIFA Football Court	It depended on each federation	No FIFA mechanism
Natural or legal person	Only natural person	Natural or legal person	Any

Evolution: three eras of representation

Era 1 — Licensed Agents (1991-2015):FIFA regulated the profession with a strict licensing system. Difficult exam (6-35% pass rates), few licensed agents, controlled market but large number of illegal operators.

Era 2 — Intermediaries (2015-2023):FIFA deregulated the profession. No exam, no global license, simple registration by federation. The market opened: intermediaries multiplied by 10. Commissions quadrupled. The disputes escalated. FIFA acknowledged that the experiment failed.

Era 3 — FIFA Agents (2023-present):Return to the licensing system, but with higher standards than era 1: global exam, global license, commission limits (suspended but in force in the regulations), mandatory continuous training, centralized digital platform, and jurisdiction of the Chamber of Agents of the Football Court.

Consequences of operating without a license

For theunlicensed representative:

Disqualification for a minimum of 24 monthsto apply for an agent's license, counted from the last act of representation without a license (art. 5, section 1 b of the RFAF)
Possibledisciplinary sanctionsin accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code
Impossibility of legally collecting commissions — FIFA does not recognize or execute fee agreements with non-licensed persons

For theplayer or clubwho hires a non-licensed person:

Sanction in accordance with art. 18, section 2 a) of the RFAF: clientscannot hire people without a licensefor representation services
Possibledisciplinary consequenceswhich may include fines and, for clubs, restrictions on player registration

Family members as representatives

A father, mother, brother or uncle who negotiates contracts on behalf of a player without a FIFA license is operating illegallyaccording to RFAF. The regulation does not provide exceptions for family members. If your dad wants to represent you, he needs to get licensed like any other agent. The only alternative is for you to negotiate yourself (the RFAF recognizes the player's right to negotiate without an agent, art. 12, section 12) and for your family member to accompany you as a personal advisor, without providing formal representation services.

How to check if an agent is licensed

FIFA maintains apublic directory of licensed agentsaccessible on the FIFA website (inside.fifa.com/transfer-system/agents). Anyone can consult it for free.

Before signing arepresentation contract, check:

That the agent appears in the licensed FIFA directorycurrent(not suspended or withdrawn)
That the license number matches the one that appears in the contract
If you operate in a country with additional national regulation (such as England, which requires FA registration in addition to the FIFA license), also check local registration

If the agent does not appear in the directory,do not sign anything. And if you've already signed a contract with someone who doesn't have a license, consult a sports lawyer — the contract may not be valid under the RFAF.

What players should do

Protect your career

Always check the license.It's free and takes 30 seconds. If the person representing you does not have a FIFA license, you are at risk.
Don't let yourself be pressured by family members.It's natural that your family wants to help you, but if your dad or uncle negotiates your contracts without a license, both of you can face penalties.
You have the right to negotiate alone.If you do not find an agent that convinces you, you can negotiate your employment contract directly with the club. This must be reflected in the contract (art. 12, section 12 of the RFAF).
Search for agents in the FIFA directory.Filter by country, language or name. And then investigate their history, their current clients, and their reputation in the market.
Create your professional profile.If you want licensed agents to find you, you need to be visible. Platforms likeFutbol CVallow you to create a complete sports profile and connect with verified agents.

This guide is based on the RFAF (December 2024 edition), the RFAF FAQ, the former FIFA Regulations on Relations with Intermediaries (2015), the FAQ from inside.fifa.com/transfer-system/agents, and analysis from EA Sports Law, SportsAgent Institute, LawInSport, Lexology, and Sports Law Bulletin. This guidance is informative and does not replace the advice of a specialized professional.

If you are building your career in professional football,create your free profile on Futbol CV.

Differences between FIFA agent, intermediary and unlicensed representative