***WORKING WITH A LICENSED AGENT***
How do I choose the right agent to work with?
I am regularly asked by young players how best to find a suitable football agent to work with. My first advise is to make sure the agent is licensed by FIFA.
Why is this important ⁉️
Admittedly, there are many unlicensed individuals that are well connected and can facilitate transfers and also many individuals that are licensed but don’t have a great network and in turn don’t do a great job as an agent. Either way, below are some of the reasons why you should have a licensed agent by your side:
1. First and foremost it’s forbidden 🚫 by FIFA for players and clubs to use the services of a non-licensed players’ agent (and can come with sanctions).
2. Working with a licensed agent provides you, as a player, with some protections; for example:
a. Maximum two year representation contract – I was recently approached by a group of individuals who had decided to go into the “agency business” and asked for some advise on the representation side. One of the things they wanted was the duration of the representation contracts they sign with the players they scout to be for 10 years 🧐😳😅. I had to explain that it wasn’t allowed under the FIFA regulations.
b. There is a cap on agent commissions – 3%, 5%, 10% this is currently a serious bone of contention. That said, it still protects a player from being “enslaved” by that person who bought him/her their first pair of boots and now wants to “own” him/her for life. The number of times I’ve heard players offer me 50% of their salary for life, if only I can secure them an opportunity 😅. Fortunately, this isn’t allowed.
c. For minors – any agent authorised to work with minors would have completed the continuous professional development (CPD) on working with minors and a disclosure barring service (DBS) check if the agent is affiliated with the England FA 🏴.
3. Licensed agents take exams (something that FIFA scrapped in 2015, but thankfully brought back). As part of the process, prospective agents need to study sections of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) and they are tested on these. It empowers them with invaluable knowledge to assist the player navigate the sometimes murky waters of the football industry. A lot of people think that being an agent is all about scouting talent; you can work with a scout for that part. What is very important is understanding the evolving legal side of the game and be au fait with the FIFA RSTP and any updates.
4. Licensed agents are regulated and therefore have to abide by set rules and regulations. They are therefore less likely to misbehave.
5. If they do misbehave, you can report them to FIFA or the Member Association they are linked to.
To search for a FIFA licensed agent, you can do that here:
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