Italy’s new football intermediaries’ law – a testing regime

As is well-known in the world of football, the FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries (Regulations) came into force with effect from 1 April 2015. The Regulations repealed the previous licensing system and introduced a new regime that shifted the focus from who can be an intermediary (agent) to how they operate (note: for more background on the Regulations, please see here1).

Pursuant to Article 1 of the Regulations, FIFA requires national football associations to implement and enforce its provisions. However,they expressly reserve associations’ rights “to go beyond these minimum standards/requirements”, allowing them the flexibility to determine how the Regulations are integrated at national level.

This article examines how Italy currently regulates the activity of intermediaries. It focuses on the recent new that has been passed, requiring intermediaries to be registered with their national federations, and to pass an examination process to qualify.