What is the difference between a football intermediary and a licensed agent?
A FIFA licensed agent has passed FIFA's exam and holds a licence to act for players, coaches and clubs. Intermediary is the older term from FIFA's 2015 rules, when there was no FIFA licence. Under the current regulations only a licensed agent may perform agent services, so clubs should ask for the licence and check it with FIFA.
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Where the word intermediary comes from
From 2015, FIFA's Regulations on Working with Intermediaries governed the job. There was no FIFA exam, and intermediaries registered with national associations. The FIFA Football Agent Regulations replaced those rules in 2023 and brought back a FIFA licence. Many people still use intermediary for someone who works on moves without one.
What each can do
| FIFA licensed agent | Intermediary | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds a FIFA licence | Yes | No |
| International moves | Can act | May not perform agent services (article 11) |
| Domestic moves | Can act, under national rules | National regulations must carry the same rule (article 3), so usually not. Check locally |
| Can be checked with FIFA | Yes | No licence to check |
Scouts
A scout finds and assesses players but does not negotiate for them. Many scouts work with agents or clubs and pass on players they rate.
How clubs can check
Ask for the licence number and the agent's digital licence card, and check the licence with FIFA. The name must match. On FTBL Exchange every agent is shown as an Intermediary, a Scout or a FIFA Licensed Agent, and the licensed label carries a verified tick only once we have checked the licence with FIFA.
See what clubs need before you pick up the phone.
Every request has to state the salary, net or gross, and the contract length. Propose the players you represent. FIFA licensed agents, intermediaries and scouts all register free. No subscription, no fee per player.
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Questions people also ask
Is it illegal to work as an intermediary?
Performing agent services without a licence breaches FIFA's regulations, which national associations apply to domestic moves too. Whether it also breaks national law depends on the country. Scouting, without representing a player or negotiating for him, does not need a licence.
Can intermediaries register on FTBL Exchange?
Yes. Intermediaries, scouts and FIFA licensed agents can all register free, and each is labelled as such to clubs.