How to Pass the FIFA Agent Exam: Key Points to Note in The Support Materials

Introduction

Following the main documents contained within the study materials, FIFA also includes some additional documents under Chapter II: Support Materials. This is around 100 pages of a variety of information that many candidates who took the exam last year unfortunately overlooked and deemed them not to be important. However, there were several examples of questions that, although possibly answerable without, the answers were explicitly given within the Support Materials. Therefore, had these candidates read through and been aware of the useful information in the Support Materials, these questions would have been far simpler to answer and almost guaranteed that you would answer them correctly. 

In this blog we will delve into these Support Material documents to highlight which areas are most important to pay attention to, although we recommend reading all of this chapter through, at least once.

The Contents

The FIFA Study Materials Support Materials include a range of resources aimed at providing detailed guidance and information on various aspects of football governance and regulation that are supplementary to the main body of documents in the first half of the study materials. Here’s a breakdown of each item listed:

1. FIFA Circular no. 1827: FIFA Football Agent Regulations (2022 edition):

This circular outlines the regulations set forth by FIFA governing the conduct and responsibilities of football agents. It covers aspects such as agent licensing, representation agreements, and the obligations of agents towards players and clubs.

1. FIFA Circular no. 1853: Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players – categorisation of clubs and registration periods:

This circular focuses on the regulations related to the status and transfer of players, particularly emphasising the categorisation of clubs and the designated registration periods for player transfers. It provides clarity on the procedures and rules governing player movements between clubs. If any question asks you to consider the category of clubs, perhaps in calculating the value of Training Compensation, this is the place to go.

1. FIFA Circular no. 1867: Failure to respect settlement agreements – competence of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee:

This circular addresses matters related to the failure to comply with settlement agreements within the football context. It outlines the jurisdiction and authority of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in resolving disputes arising from such failures and ensures adherence to negotiated settlements. If any questions arise on the Disciplinary Committee this may be worth checking to ensure any vital information isn’t missed.

1. FIFA Circular no. 1873: FIFA Football Agent Regulations: update on implementation:

This circular provides updates and amendments to the FIFA Football Agent Regulations, highlighting any changes or developments in the regulatory framework governing football agents. It ensures stakeholders are informed about the latest standards and requirements in agent representation. This is also summarised in one of our previous blogs. 

1. FIFA Football Agent FAQs (March 2023 ed.):

The FIFA Football Agent Frequently Asked Questions document serves as a resource for clarifying common queries and concerns related to football agent regulations and practices. It addresses inquiries from agents, players, clubs, and other stakeholders regarding agent licensing, transactions, and ethical standards. Last year we noticed that the information for many questions, particularly those that mentioned ‘selecting one or more’ correct answers, was sometimes contained in this part of the Support Materials and was an easy mistake for agents to make by just selecting the right answer that was in the main documents having not read through the FAQ’s prior to the exam.

1. FIFA Football Agent Exam Rules (January 2024 ed.):

This resource outlines the rules and guidelines governing the Football Agent exam itself. It provides detailed information on exam procedures, eligibility criteria, examination format, and scoring criteria, ensuring fairness and consistency in the certification process for football agents. Make sure you have read this through before you take the exam!

Key Points to Note

Please note that the page numbers in brackets are relevant to the Study Materials PDF rather than the specific document’s corresponding page. 

1. Enclosure 1 Explanatory Notes of the FFAR (pp593-603): This provides further and detailed guidance and explanations various areas of football agents, agent services, representation agreements and more. It defines football agent services as negotiations and activities aimed at concluding transactions related to player and coach employment, transfers, and contract terms. The section emphasises the necessity of written representation agreements, outlining their essential components and requirements. It specifies that representation agreements must include details such as the parties involved, duration, service fees, and nature of services provided. Additionally, it explains payment models, limitations on service fees, and conflict of interest regulations, including restrictions on dual representation in transactions. Furthermore, it clarifies jurisdictional matters, delineating which body has authority to resolve disputes and enforce FFAR provisions. Finally, it introduces the establishment of a Football Agent Working Group to provide ongoing consultation on agent-related matters. A must read!
2. Training Costs and Categorisation of Clubs (pp617-626): The provided information outlines the training costs and categorization of football clubs for 2023. It demonstrates that training costs are organised by confederation and club category, with updates occurring annually. The tables show the specific costs associated with each club category within different confederations. These costs vary depending on the confederation and the club’s category, with higher categories generally incurring higher training costs. The tables provided for each confederation guide associations in classifying their clubs into appropriate categories based on these training costs, facilitating compliance with the regulations set forth. Overall, the information helps you to understand the financial requirements associated with club categorisation and training costs for the given year and will assist you in applying them to a question that demands this knowledge. 
3. FIFA Football Agent FAQs (pp635-668): The FIFA Agent FAQs cover an extensive range of questions regarding the regulations and procedures for becoming and acting as a football agent. It includes inquiries about definitions, eligibility criteria, exam details, ongoing requirements for maintaining a licence, representation agreements, service fees, reporting requirements, disputes, disciplinary matters, and final provisions. These FAQs are essential reading for anyone preparing for the FIFA Football Agent exam, as they provide comprehensive information that can help candidates answer exam questions accurately. The FAQs emphasise the importance of understanding the regulations and procedures outlined in the main documents, which are crucial for success in obtaining and maintaining a football agent licence.

Practice Question

Answer at the bottom of the blog.

Which of the following is/are included in the definition of Football Agent Services? Select one or more.

1. Any action to facilitate or effect the employment, registration or deregistration of a player with a club or a Single‑Entity League
2. Any action to facilitate or effect the payment of training compensation to clubs entitled to such payments upon the transfer of a player
3. Any action to facilitate or effect the transfer of the registration of a player from one club to another
4. Any action to facilitate or effect the creation, termination or variation of an Individual’s terms of employment

Conclusion

In conclusion, the FIFA Support Materials offer essential information often overlooked by exam candidates. Understanding the contents of these documents, such as the FIFA Football Agent Regulations, Circulars on player status and transfer, and the comprehensive FAQ section, is paramount for success in the FIFA Football Agent exam. Particularly noteworthy are the explanations provided in the Explanatory Notes of the FFAR, which offer detailed insights into agent services, representation agreements, and jurisdictional matters. Additionally, the information on training costs and club categorisation underscores the financial requirements associated with club management and player development. Therefore, it is imperative for aspiring football agents to thoroughly review these support materials to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory framework and increase their chances of success in the examination process.

Don’t forget, as well as our free resources available below and new additions weekly until the exam, if you want to take your preparation one step further, our next 8-hour comprehensive online How to Pass the FIFA Agent Exam Course with Dr Erkut Sogut and top sports lawyer, Daniel Geey, is taking place on 20th April 2024 and is open for registration through the link! 

The Sports Agent Academy FREE Resources List

• How to Pass the FIFA Agent Exam Youtube Playlist
• The Ultimate Guide to the FIFA Study Materials
• A-Z Key Definitions Guide
• The Top 5 Essential Topics
• Top 10 Best Tips (English)
• Mock Exam 1
• Mock Exam 2
• Mock Exam 3
• Mock Exam 4
• Mock Exam 5
• Top 10 Best Tips (Spanish Translation)
• Top 10 Best Tips (French Translation)
• Top 10 Best Tips (Italian Translation)
• Top 10 Best Tips (Turkish Translation)
• Understanding Training Compensation and the Solidarity Mechanism
• Understanding the Football Tribunal
• FIFA Study Materials

Practice Question Answer

The correct options are answers A,C, and D. Check Page 644 of the FIFA FFAR FAQs; What are Football Agent Services?