Verifying football agents: what clubs should actually do
Clubs still waste time dealing with fake mandates. Here are the three checks we recommend before engaging in any discussion.
Where the problem starts
FIFA reintroduced agent licensing in 2023, which should have settled the issue. It hasn't. A sporting director we work with told us this summer that his club still receives multiple proposals per week from unknown agents. The regulation exists but nobody wants to play the enforcement role. So everyone improvises and hopes for the best.
The FIFA register is not enough
Checking the FIFA register is always step one, and it should be. But the register only tells you whether someone holds a licence. It does not confirm that person represents the specific player they claim to represent. That is exactly the most common fraud we see: a real agent, a valid licence, but no actual mandate for the player in question.
What we recommend in practice
Our checklist is straightforward. First, request the written, dated mandate signed by the player. Second, verify directly with the player through a channel you control, not one provided by the agent. Third, confirm the licence on the FIFA portal. If these three steps take more than ten minutes, something is off. Either the person cannot produce the documents, or they are stalling. Both are red flags.
When the player is a minor
Everything changes when minors are involved. Mandates for underage players are subject to much stricter regulation, and the intermediary must provide proof of authorization from legal guardians. Without those documents, no discussion should proceed. This is not excessive caution. It is child protection, and the club's liability in any dispute is significant.
What we are building with FOOTPASS
This is part of why FOOTPASS exists. The goal is not to replace FIFA regulations but to make the three checks above automatic. One club told us: I want to know in thirty seconds whether the agent across the table has a legitimate mandate for this specific player. That is the target. Not a complete solution to the entire problem, but a meaningful reduction in wasted time and risk.
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