PZPN

The amendments introduce strong regulation of agents' activities and aim to, among other things:

– raise and set the minimum professional and ethical standards for the occupation of Football Agent

– ensure the quality of the service provided by Football Agents to Clients at fair and reasonable service fees that are uniformly applicable;

– limit conflicts of interest to protect Clients from unethical conduct of Football Agents;

– improve financial and administrative transparency of the activities of Football Agents;

– protect players who lack experience or information relating to the football transfer system;

– enhance contractual stability between players, coaches and clubs;

– prevent abusive, excessive and speculative practices

The core element of the new football agent system is an exam, the passing of which is an absolute condition for obtaining a licence. The plan is for the examinations to be held twice a year – ultimately once a year – on the same day all over the world, and to be organised by the individual associations. The exam is conducted electronically – pre-registered candidates, gathered at a location designated by the association, log on to a dedicated FIFA platform and answer questions through it. Each candidate is given a different set of 20 questions and must answer at least 16 of them correctly within one hour. In Poland, the first exam took place on 19 April 2023, while the next exam has been scheduled for 20 September 2023. On the first date, 56 candidates took the exam, 42 of whom passed.

Only those who held an agent's licence before 2015 and later continued as transaction intermediaries are exempt from the exam.

The licence obtained is perpetual and entitles one to perform the services of an agent worldwide. Importantly, it is individual and the powers vested are not transferable to other persons or entities.

Importantly, as of the effective date of the football agent regulations, i.e.  1 October 2023, the rules on the activities of transaction intermediaries will cease to apply – existing transaction intermediaries who do not obtain a FIFA licence will not be entitled to provide agent services.

Taking into account the possibility of specific local circumstances, all national associations have been obliged by FIFA to adopt regulations governing the activities of agents within their association, with the issue of the obligation to obtain a licence, as well as the mandatory implementation of other selected solutions, being common to all. In the case of Poland, the issue of agents' activities shall be determined by the Football Agents Regulations of the PZPN, adopted by the Management Board of the PZPN at its meeting on 8 August 2023.

The new regulations introduce, among other things, a limitation on the amount of fees payable to the agent, the setting of deadlines for payment to the agent, and a limitation on dual representation. The regulations include, among other things, rules on the representation of clients (including underage players), regulations on fees for services, jurisdiction, obligations of agents and clients, and an information policy.

In case of questions or doubts about the PZPN Football Agents Regulations, please direct them to the following email address: agent@pzpn.pl. Based on these, a national FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) will be developed, following the example of FIFA. Webinars on the adopted regulation will also be held in the near future, addressed to the participants of the football transfer system in Poland.

All detailed information can be found in the attachments below: PZPN Football Agents Regulations, FIFA Football Agents Regulations and explanatory notes to the FIFA Regulations.