Gone are the days when soccer agents had to act like John Wayne in a classic western. No more orange filters, and make way for clarity.
From 1er October 2023, FIFA will require agents to obtain a license to practice their profession. Thus, for the first time, all agents on the planet will be governed by the same rules. Excellent news, according to Nicolas A Martineau, co-founder of the Obelisq agency.
“It’s a good thing,” he notes. […] It was a bit of a buffet here in Canada, anyone could work as an agent. The licenses were not checked when we signed a contract, so anyone could sign a player in a team without necessarily being able to check his links or his background. »
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Nicolas A Martineau, co-founder of the Obelisq agency
However, obtaining the new license is not done by snapping your fingers. To get their hands on said license, agents will not only have to pay an annual fee to the international federation, but also pass an exam.
On April 19 and 20, 3,800 candidates tried their luck at the first exam. Of this group, just over one candidate out of two (52%) was successful. They will be given a second chance in September.
“It will clean up some people who do not know the work done upstream,” says the agent, who passed the test. According to him, these are so-called agents who “don’t care a bit about the rules” and who try to derail agreements “at the last minute”.
There are always charlatans, there were and there have been many in Canada and in Quebec. However, I have the impression that a page will be turned on this chapter.
Nicolas A Martineau, co-founder of the Obelisq agency
Another aspect that will change, according to Mr. Martineau, is the influence of close guards on certain players. “Sometimes the family, entourage and friends of a player who is beginning to experience success will try to improvise agents,” he explains. From now on, they will have to pass the exam if they want to have their protege sign any contract.
Clear tags
The reform also comes with new regulations to supervise the agents. A pact between an agent and a player, club or coach cannot last more than two years. Obviously, it will be possible to sign a new agreement afterwards, but no one will have their hands tied for a long period.
Agents will also have to take a maximum of 5% of the player’s salary if he makes US$200,000 or less or 3% for those who make more than that amount. A limit will also be imposed on the transfer fee, set at 10%.
Nicolas A Martineau believes that these measures will do “more harm” to agents who have a certain monopoly, but that they are justified.
“For agents in more intermediate leagues, say those who are not negotiating Premier League contracts, these are fair amounts and those we are used to working with. I think it’s a good thing that we regulate this. We have to work to get our money, ”summarizes the agent of Sean Rea, Mohamed Farsi and Gabrielle Carle.
A big step forward
At the same time, FIFA created the Chamber of Agents of the Football Court, in order to settle disputes “of an international dimension” between a client and an agent. It will therefore be able to intervene, if necessary, during international transfers when there is a dispute.
“We will feel better protected, because there is a resource at FIFA when we have a conflict or a question. Rather than turning to Canada Soccer, it will now be towards a larger body, and it is perhaps more reassuring to know that we are under this umbrella,” admits Mr. Martineau.
We will have to wait a few months, even a few years, before taking stock and determining if there are major flaws in this new system. That said, it is promising and helps to professionalize an environment that has been left to its own devices for too long.