How to become a football agent in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

In talking about football, the topics of money, commerce, contracts are involuntarily touched upon. Who provides a stable future for athletes? Such people are called agents. They play the role of accountants, diplomats, lawyers, while trying to stay in the shadows. Who are these mysterious persons? How to become a football agent?

Introduction to the profession

The first agents in football appeared in the 1970s in the West. By signing the contract with the athlete, they took responsibility for his finances and career. Of course, how good the results will be depends on professional competence and honesty. To support a high level of specialists in this field, FIFA has established the Institute of Football Agents. Here they pass exams for proficiency, knowledge of foreign languages, jurisprudence. Usually, former football players become agents, who perfectly know the activities of team sports and the features of communicating with acting players.

In Russia, too, there is an institute for such specialists, after which they receive a certificate of the RFU. The license of the football agent gives the right to work not only in his country, but also in other states, and also ensures transparency of actions. Currently, professionals in the field, graduating from the Russian Federation, there are about 150 people. Represent the interests of athletes can not only professionals, but their relatives. So, the affairs of the famous footballer Ronaldinho is engaged in his brother, and the brothers Riise - their mother Berit Riise.

Specialty features in Russia

In our country, this profession appeared in the early 90-ies of the twentieth century. Along with the licensed agents, non-professionals also began to work, who often deceived their clients for their own benefit. The first organization in Russia, which had the right to sell our athletes abroad, is Sovintersport. Unfortunately, most of the salary went to the state, so football players and hockey players received little money. So, for the defender of the USSR national team Vagiz Khidiyatullin who left in France, the country received 29 thousand dollars a month from his salary of 30 thousand dollars.

The agent-trailblazer in our country was Constantine Sarsania. The former footballer is still on the list of the International Football Federation. At the moment he works as a coach. Also, professional agents from a number of former football players were V. Panchenko, D. Gradilenko, A. Novgorodov.

Rules for obtaining a license

How to become a football agent? Who has the right to call himself an expert in this field? To obtain such a position, you must:

- to have the citizenship of the country where the license is requested;

- not to be a lawbreaker;

- successfully pass the special FIFA test.

The fee for conducting the exam is determined by the federation of football in the country where it is tested. It ranges from 100 to 1000 euros. During the year, two attempts to pass the test are allowed.

After compliance with all conditions and obtaining a license, the agent is required to pay FIFA for the right to work with clients from 1000 to 10,000 euros. Also, the local football federation makes its own terms.

License Examination

Before the future agent goes for testing, he needs to make a contribution in the amount of 100 thousand rubles. This money goes to cover the costs of organizing and conducting the exam. The fee is not refundable. On the day before testing, a one-day seminar is usually held. For all questions of the examination, contact the legal department of the Russian Football Union. A number of documents must be submitted to this unit.

The exam includes twenty questions with multiple answers. The test is based on the following materials:

1. The FIFA Charter, which was adopted in 2012.
2. Charter on the application of the Statutes of FIFA.
3. FIFA regulation on the status and transitions of football players.
4. Rules on the status and transitions of players.
5. Regulations of football players of FIFA.
6. Rules that govern the procedures of the Committee on the Status of Players and the Chamber for Dispute Resolution.
7. Disciplinary Code of FIFA.

Questions from the International Federation of Football Associations come in English, which translates the international department of the Russian Football Union.

Features of obtaining a license in our country

How to become a football agent in the Russian Federation? To do this, you need to contact the relevant organization. RAF gives the right to obtain a professional certificate when providing certificates from the psycho-neurological dispensary, the police, which state that the future agent does not suffer from mental illness and has no criminal record. Also you need to buy an insurance policy, the price of which is 100 thousand Swiss francs. Money is insurance in cases of litigation. Further it is required to draw up a statement of readiness to honor the code of honor.

That's how to become a football agent! But are the documents provided enough? An obligatory condition, as already mentioned, is the successful passing of a special examination. He receives a commission of seven people. It includes representatives of the Professional Football League, the legal committee of the RFU, the Russian Football Premier League.

How to find a football agent?

What actions need to be taken to find a good specialist? First, you need to contact the association of football agents. Here you can choose the right option and make a contract. Secondly, remember that a professional agent must take responsibility for solving legal issues, working with employment contracts, acting as a consultant, an intermediary in the transfer and sports activities of the client. Thirdly, you should carefully consider the education of a specialist, to work experience.

The agency fee is no more than 10 percent of the player's income. If the athlete is under 16, the rate is reduced to 3 percent. Specialist incurs expenses on flight and organization of meetings with representatives of football clubs.

Agencies

For an answer to the question of how to find a football agent, you can contact the association, which unites all licensed football experts of the RFU. It was established in 2004. The goal of the AFA is the cooperation of agents, the development of football, as well as the football industry in the Russian Federation. The Association of Football Agents promotes interaction of agents with the International Federation of Football Associations, the Russian Football Union, the European Football Union, the Russian Football Premier League. The Association of Football Agents includes A. Minasov, A. Zotov, S. Bazanov, O. Eremin, A. Tolstikov, A. Maniakov, O. Malezhik.

Football agents of Moscow and other cities of Russia

One of the most influential specialists in this field is Oleg Artemov. His clients were A. Arshavin, P. Pogrebnyak, R. Pavlyuchenko and others. The license was received by the agent in 2004. In Moscow, O. Artemov works in the German agency Dr. Oliver Wendt & Tomas Zorn.

The football agent D. Sychev, I. Denisov, V. Bystrov is Pavel Andreev. The specialist cooperates with the club "Zenith".

In 2005, another well-known agent German Tkachenko founded ProSports Management. Previously, he led the Samara club "Wings". Then he became the representative of D. Kolodin, S. Leilton, A. Tikhonov. The specialist promotes the brand "Anji", which is on the board of directors.

Agency "SA", created by Alexei Safonov, focuses mainly on young players. He is a partner of Chertanovo school. The list of clients of the agency includes Artem Dzyuba, Sergei Ryzhikov, Vladimir Granat, Alexei Medvedev and others.

Another well-known football organization ASA International, headed by Arsen Minasov, works with clients such as K. Zyryanov, V. Kulik, R. Shirokov, O. Vukojević. The company is known in the international market, cooperates with Croatian players.

Professionals in CIS countries

How to become a football agent in Ukraine? First you need to have 8 thousand hryvnia on the account and numerous connections in football teams. In March and September of each year, examinations are held to obtain a license. For admission to the verification of knowledge, the following documents must be submitted to the Status and Transfers Committee:

- two types of passport: foreign and civil;

- identification code;

- Work record book;

- diploma of education;

- statement with an autobiography;

- certificate of residence;

- extracts from the psychoneurological and narcological dispensaries;

- certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs;

- cash contribution.

Candidates are checked for knowledge of the statute and regulations of FIFA on the status and transfer of players, FIFA regulations on the activities of agents, FFU regulations for the work of agents. The license is valid for five years and has an international status.

Obligatory condition of work by a football agent is the acquisition of insurance. Its cost is about 10,350 UAH, and it is used only in case of litigation. Also, the specialist carries out annual insurance of its activities in the amount of 100 thousand Swiss francs.

Football agency in the Republic of Belarus

The conditions for obtaining a license in this country are the same as in other states. The agent must pass the exam. Of the twenty test questions, fifteen include topics on FIFA regulations, and five on the requirements of the AFFF. Persons with higher education are admitted to the exam. The future agent must provide information on the absence of criminal record and evidence of mental health. After the examination, the candidate concludes a liability insurance contract and signs a code of professional conduct.

Speaking about how to become a football agent in Belarus, it should be noted that relatives of athletes can also master this profession, but they must be registered with the Association of the Belarusian Football Federation.

Unlicensed agents

When you need a football agent, and the athlete does not have large amounts, you have to turn to illegal specialists. Various people are engaged in informal business in our country, for example, club managers, employees from sports departments and others. Regulations on the status and transfer of football players of the Russian Football Union provides for sanctions both to clubs that work with unlicensed agents, and to the players who have concluded agreements with them. For the latter, the penalty usually looks like a warning, a fine of 250 thousand rubles or a disqualification for up to 12 months. As for the clubs, the penalty for cooperation with an unlicensed agent is already 1 million rubles, it is also possible to transfer the organization to the lower division, remove points, ban transfers for a certain period. Any conducted transactions in this case are canceled.

Despite serious sanctions, football players and clubs continue to use the services of "bugs" (the so-called agents without licenses). Why? First, such employees have a lower payment for services than professionals with a certificate. Secondly, with the help of the "bug" club can get rid of an unwanted football player with a benefit for themselves. There are other reasons.

Features of the activity

The question of how to become a football agent in Moscow today is very relevant. A beginner must observe a number of rules that, if successfully implemented, can lead to the desired result.

1. At the beginning it is better to have one or two clients with whom it is necessary to maintain personal contact.

2. Try to attend all the football actions, on which you need to get useful acquaintances.

3. Learn foreign languages.

4. Identify the field of their activities.

5. Conduct honest negotiations.

6. Do not expect to receive large amounts of money quickly.

7. Try to travel a lot to observe as many players as possible in the work.

8. It is desirable to acquire intermediaries.

9. Attention to the client.

10. Maintain good relations with journalists.

Conclusion

So, now you know how to become a football agent in Russia. To do this, you need to have a certain amount on the account, do not have problems with the law, have good mental health. It is necessary to have a higher education, especially legal or economic. And most importantly, what is required is to be able to communicate with people, strengthen ties and have oratory skills.