SAFA set to publicize recognised football agents

This was confirmed this week by SAFA Chief Operations Officer Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe during an exclusive interview with SABC Sport.

The new FIFA agent system started at the beginning of last year, and to date, SAFA has had three exams. Motlanthe also reveals that the clubs have already stated that they will only do business with recognized agents.

"In terms of FIFA regulations, that's exactly that and already if you interact with agents, they will tell you, that clubs have already told them that if you don't pass [They can’t work with them],” Motlanthe said.

“Remember clubs have a way of paying, others are paying you once off when you bring a player, others are paying in a scattered way and those who are paying in a scattered way, they already told agents that next time you come without a license we'll not continue with you.

“So, these are the people who can do business and one must put that after the good work done by Mr Khoza [Irvin], the list was also taken to the PSL, they have the list so whoever will do business with someone will not come in and complain because they have the list of who are the recognised agents as things stand."

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There are 12 legacy agents, and the rest are those who passed through the newly introduced exam system.

This means, from the most recent exams, there were 187 applications initially, only 82 managed to sit and write and only less than 15 passed.

Motlanthe has more on the new agents exams system and why it’s difficult to pass.

"Moving from intermediaries back to agents, people are expected to write exams and the South African Football Association had three exams to date.

“The pass rate is not something pleasing but we are doing better than other countries, currently we have a list of close to 30 qualified from those exams, mixed with the legacy programme.

The legacy programme just to explain a bit, agents who have been there, who had cards which prove that they have been agents, they were economically active, FIFA gave them a chance to do what we call a legacy.

“The are agents who came through that did not have to come and write the exams but there were some tests which they were taken through, and there were some things which they had to download through the FIFA portal. They were given licenses through the legacy."

On the SAFA Agents football agents regulations, under Disclosure and Publication, this is the process to be followed:

1. SAFA shall make available:

a) The names and details of all Football Agents;

b) The Clients that Football Agents represent, the exclusivity or non-exclusivity of their representation and the expiry date of the Representation Agreement;

c) The Football Agent Services provided to each Client;

d) Any sanctions imposed on Football Agents and Clients;

e) Details of all Transactions involving Football Agents, including the service fee amounts paid to Football Agents.