Q) I am studying at School/University and wish to become a Licensed Agent. What should I do now and can I get any work experience?

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1 FAQs on Agents 1 - APPLYING Q) I am studying at School/University and wish to become a Licensed Agent. What should I do now and can I get any work experience? A) We advise all students to continue with their studies and consider their options in the wider context. There are no set qualifications required to obtain a licence to become a Licensed Agent, but the competition is fierce and thus experience in other fields may help your career later down the line. Whilst there is no minimum age limit, those under 18 may also find it difficult to establish the relevant insurance cover required. Please note, The FA cannot offer work experience in this field. You may find that contacting existing agents may provide you with more information on work opportunities. Q) I am an English national but have lived in Germany for the last ten years. Which national association should I apply to for my licence? A) English nationals may apply through The FA. However, if they live elsewhere, they must apply to the national association of the country where they now reside. This is in accordance with the FIFA Players Agents Regulations. Q) I am not English but an EU Citizen who now lives in England. Can I apply to sit the exam with The FA? A) Yes, non-english EU Citizens can apply to sit the exam with The FA providing that they can provide proof of residency in England. If you are non-eu Citizen you can also apply through The FA providing you can prove that you have been resident in England for the last two years. Q) What is the approximate length of time taken for the licensing process to be completed? A) Applications are only accepted during an application window. Assessing application forms and undertaking full CRB checks and any further investigations required can take several weeks. We aim to place successful applicants in the first available examination sitting following each window, but this cannot be guaranteed. Once your application form and CRB disclosure have been approved, you will be invited to sit the examination. Sittings are usually held in Spring and Autumn each year. If successful at the examination, your licence can be issued as soon as we have received your other documentation (Insurance and Code of Conduct) and it has been approved. This must be provided to The FA within six months of the date of the exam. Please note that the process must be completed in full before you start work as an agent passing the exam in itself is not sufficient.

2 Q) I am currently coaching with a football club. Am I still allowed to apply? A) We will not accept applications from those with any ties be it employment or financial with a football club, or any person with an official position with FIFA, a confederation, any National Association or any organisation connected with these institutions. Please note that at The FA s discretion, application fees will be forfeited if applicants are deemed to have current links to any football association, league, confederation, club or any organisation connected to such entities. If you are in any doubt, you are advised to consult The FA before submitting your application. 2 THE EXAMINATION Q) What do I need to study for the examination? A) You are advised to study all the relevant FIFA and FA Regulations and amendments concerning player registrations, transfers and status, together with official handbooks and other information to get you through the licensing process. You can download all this information from the relevant section of the Football Agents page of the FA website. You are, however, advised to consult the FIFA and The FA websites from time to time for all relevant circulars, developments and amendments to the regulations. The FA does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the study pack information which is provided as a courtesy. The FA does not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising as a result of incompleteness or inaccuracy in the information provided. Q) Can I obtain a sample examination paper to help me with my preparation? A) You will be sent copies of previous actual examination papers, together with the answers, to aid in your revision once your application has been accepted. Q) When are examinations held? A) Usual practice has been to hold examination sittings in March and September each year. This has usually also been in the latter part of the month. FIFA advises each national association of the date, about six to eight weeks beforehand. For those individuals whose applications have been accepted, we shall advise them of the date thereafter. Q) What is the usual format for the examination? A) The examination lasts for 75 minutes and takes the form of 20 multiple-choice questions, based on both FIFA (15 questions) and FA Regulations (five questions). Questions are based on case studies provided in the examination and are designed to test your understanding of the principles and application of the relevant regulations.

3 Q) What is the pass mark? A) Applicants will be advised of the overall pass mark required at the start of the examination. Previous experience, however, has indicated that candidates are required to attain 70 per cent of the paper as a whole. Candidates will receive their result (pass or fail), by letter, usually within two weeks of the examination. Q) What happens if I fail the examination? Can I re-take? A) Your initial application fee covers one examination sitting. You are able to re-take the examination upon payment of a new application fee (currently 250) to cover costs. In accordance with FIFA Regulations, applicants may re-take the examination at the next available sitting, upon failing for the first time. Should they fail a second time, they must wait until two further sittings have passed before attempting to re-take. Should they fail a third time, they will be required to wait two years. For each fail thereafter they are required to await a further two years. 3 DOCUMENTATION Q) Is there a timeframe for me to get the insurance and Code of Conduct to you? A) Yes. In accordance with FIFA's requirements, you have a six-month period from the date of the examination you pass in which to establish the insurance cover and provide all the necessary documentation to The FA. Failure to produce the documents in this timeframe will render your examination pass void and will mean starting the application process again from scratch. Q) How do I undertake the CRB check? A) Once The FA receives your completed application form, you will be sent the relevant disclosure form and guidance notes for completion of the form. You will be required to return the disclosure form and fee directly to the CRB Unit (not The FA). The address and payee details will be sent to you with your form and guidance notes. The CRB check will be returned to the CRB Unit directly. Further investigation and/or further information may be requested from you but you will be advised of this in writing, should this be necessary.

4 Q) Wasn t there once a bond or bank guarantee? Why do I have to get professional indemnity insurance cover? A) The current FIFA and FA Agents Regulations state the need for professional indemnity insurance, in line with the practice of other industries. If for any reason you cannot establish the required insurance, there is an alternative of providing a Swiss bank guarantee for a minimum of CHF 100,000. The insurance is designed to protect both yourself and your clients from any act that leads to a claim against your business as an agent. It is an essential requirement of FIFA and you will not be granted licensed status until we are satisfied that the relevant cover is in place. Q) How much is professional indemnity insurance cover? A) Premiums are based on individual circumstances and calculated on turnover. You will need to discuss your options with the insurance provider to obtain an individual quote. Q) Where can I obtain the professional indemnity insurance? A) You will be sent the contact details for some current providers of this specific type of insurance upon acceptance of your application. The policy is very much a standard one but the terms must reflect the work of a Licensed Agent, apply on a worldwide basis and be capable of satisfying claims after the policy expiry arising from acts undertaken thereunder. We require a copy of the full policy and schedule before your licence can be issued. Please note that solicitors will need to obtain this specific policy in addition to their profession s normal indemnity cover. Q) I intend to work for an existing sports agency. Can I just use their insurance? A) If their policy has been previously accepted by The FA and remains up to date, you are permitted to be insured using your company s cover. However, your name must still be specifically endorsed on the policy and confirmation of this still needs to be supplied to The FA before your licence will be issued. Should you subsequently leave the company, you will need to establish your own professional indemnity cover (sending confirmation of such to The FA) to allow you to maintain your licensed status. 4 RETAINING LICENSED STATUS Q) How do I go about signing players for representation? A) The FA cannot advise on career advancement or means of contacting Players and Clubs. However, under FA and FIFA Regulations, you may only approach players and clubs who are not currently under representation with another Licensed Agent. You may consult The FA to verify the existence of a current registered relationship, but written confirmation should also be sought from the player/club in question. You are, of course, permitted to talk to individuals currently without representation.

5 Q) Do I have to inform The FA when I sign or represent players? A) Yes. Under FIFA Regulations, you must send three copies of your representation contract (four if the Player/Club is registered with another national association) to The FA for our formal acknowledgement within five days of completion. Where the terms meet with FA requirements, we will stamp the contracts, retain one copy and return the others for both yourself and your client (or for onward transmission to the other national association, if appropriate). The submission of contracts is a regulatory requirement. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action. Q) I have been approached by a football club with a view to taking up a position of employment. What happens now? A) You are not permitted to have any formal ties with a club in membership of The FA Premier League, The Football League or Football Conference. Should you wish to take up such a position or a financial interest, you shall be required to surrender your licence to The FA and your licensed status will be rescinded. However, upon written request, you are permitted a 12-month 'grace period' from the date you surrender your licence (or take up a footballing role, whichever is the earliest), in which to return to football agency (provided you have the relevant insurance cover and comply with the Regulations). Please note that during any period of unlicensed status, your clients should be offered the opportunity to terminate existing representation contracts, because as an unlicensed individual, you would not be able to fulfil your contractual obligations thereunder during this period. Q) Do I have to renew my insurance each year? A) Yes. You need to ensure that renewal is undertaken before the expiry of current cover, with confirmation of such renewal being sent to The FA, as soon as possible. If cover is not renewed, your licensed status shall be revoked. After this time should you wish to pursue agency you shall be required to undertake the licensing process again, from the beginning.