The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has published its new regulations for sports agents, introducing significant changes. Key updates include broader requirements for operating as an agent and a clearer definition of compensation, specifying that fees will not be due for apprenticeship contracts. Another relevant novelty is the introduction of the `domiciled agent` figure, which will allow Italian individuals not yet fully licensed to operate in Italy by being domiciled with a regularly accredited agent. This measure expands access to the profession while maintaining formal control over rule compliance.
The regulations also lift the veil on penalty clauses: the new text explicitly prohibits them, preventing contractual constraints from limiting the freedom of male or female players to sign a sports performance contract independently without the assistance of the agent with whom they have a mandate.
The text approved by FIGC aligns with the currently valid provisions of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR). However, some rules within the FIFA regulations – including the cap on commissions and the prohibition of multiple representation – are currently suspended, awaiting the ruling of the European Court of Justice.
Response from Sports Agent Associations
The Associations of Sports Agents specializing in the football sector, I.A.F.A. and A.I.A.C.S., communicate:
They have notified CONI (Italian Olympic Committee), pursuant to Law n. 241/1990, of a request for annulment and/or self-revocation of National Board Resolution n. 117 of April 14, 2025, which approved the new FIGC Sports Agents Regulation (C.U. n. 255/A of April 23, 2025);
They have notified the same entity, CONI, of a request for access to documents for the purpose of potential legal protection;
They have formally warned FIGC against applying the disputed Regulation, considering it illegitimate and non-compliant.
Furthermore, the undersigned Associations have informed the competent Government Authorities, requesting their prompt intervention.
Regulatory Chaos: What`s Happening?
FIGC recently enacted a new regulation, but did so by introducing provisions that diverge from CONI`s regulation. The most obvious strangeness? That it was CONI itself that approved a regulation conflicting with FIGC`s. This paradoxical situation raises more than one doubt about the legitimacy of the approved rules and opens the door to requests for access to documents and possible appeals.
One of the most controversial aspects concerns domiciliation. FIGC removed the foreign residency requirement, contradicting national law. A clear example comes from France, where, conversely, foreign citizenship is explicitly required.
No less relevant is the issue related to penalty clauses in representation mandates. The FIGC regulation has prohibited them, potentially rendering many existing mandates void. The result could be a real contractual “wild west”: a player could, in effect, sign alone, revoke their agent at any time, and change representation without consequences.
The main problem, however, remains the invalidity or inapplicability of many of these provisions, as they deviate from higher-ranking norms. It should be recalled that the reference legislation for the professional sector is Legislative Decree 37/2021, already published in the Official Gazette. However, the implementing decree from the Ministry of Sport is still missing. Until then, the entity primarily delegated by law to regulate the sector in detail remains CONI.