PSL players at risk as FIFA implements agents regulations

The new FIFA agents regulations will be implemented on 1 October 2023 and currently, South Africa only has less than 20 accredited agents who will be eligible to operate.

South African Football Association (SAFA) Legal Officer Advocate Rachel Mkhonto has affirmed the association is ready to adopt the new laws and usher in a new era in the agents' sector as FIFA transitions away from the intermediate player representation structure that has been in place since 2015. 

FIFA have returned to the agent licensing system, as well as the examination procedure, with the new regulations. The first exam for agents was in April, and only three of the 25 agents who took it passed here in South Africa. The most recent exam was last week, and around  60 agents wrote that test.

“We had 60 people writing the examinations last week, over 100 people applied but only 60 paid the registration fee and came to write. 

“This FIFA agent license is in high demand, there are people who are still calling, they didn’t know that the exams were open, but we have also alerted them. So, I’m anticipating that we will have a high number in the next exam in April 2024.  

“In April earlier this year, only three people out of 25 agents were successful in the first exam. It’s not an easy exam, you have to pass 75 per cent of the exam to make it,” Mkhonto confirmed the processes that are currently underway for the implementation of the new FIFA agents’ regulations. 

The member association’s role in these new regulations is only to coordinate the exam and other logistics around the new agents’ regulations but the bulk of the work is done online by FIFA, including the loading of all the deals that take place. The payment of the agent fees will also be going through FIFA’s financial clearing house which is usually used in transfer deals between the clubs on the TMS system.  

FIFA wants to limit agents to taking a maximum three per cent commission for any transfer of more than $200,000 and five per cent for deals less than $200,000. There will be a 10% cap on earnings when agents act for the selling club.

“I’m working with a licensing officer, who also deals with the FIFA TMS system, and we are taking it one step at a time because people are transitioning from the intermediaries to getting the new FIFA agent license. 

“I think as SAFA, we are ready to take on the new rules and implement them in terms of the regulations as they require us to. 

“We help the agents to register on the FIFA system and if they have any queries or they are struggling to log in we are there to assist them. We send them compliance match sheets where they have to take fingerprints. 

“We also assist in terms of people who want to do away with being match officials or club officials so that they can be eligible to sit for the exam. 

There were 14 certified agents from the previous system before FIFA implemented the intermediary system, including Karabo Tshabuse, Jazzman Mahlakgane, Paul Mitchell, Glyn Binkin, and Mike Makaab. Basia Michaels, the new kid on the block, and attorney Clinton Mphahlele are among the newly licensed agents as of April of this year.