FIFA Agent Commission Rules 2026 — Complete Breakdown

One of the most frequently tested topics on the FIFA Agent Exam is agent commissions — specifically the caps, the dual representation rules, and the payment mechanism through the FIFA Clearing House. This guide breaks down every commission rule you need to know for the exam and for your practice as a licensed agent.

The Three Commission Scenarios

The FIFA Football Agent Regulations establish different commission caps depending on who the agent represents in a transaction:

• Representing the player only: maximum 3% of the player's total gross remuneration
• Representing the club only: maximum 5% of the player's total gross remuneration
• Representing both player and club (dual representation): maximum 5% total, with no more than 3% charged to the player

What Does 'Total Gross Remuneration' Mean?

The commission base is the player's total gross remuneration for the duration of the contract negotiated — not just the base salary. This includes signing bonuses, loyalty bonuses, image rights payments to the club, and any other guaranteed payments under the contract. Performance bonuses that are not guaranteed are typically excluded from the calculation.

The Low-Income Threshold

The FIFA Agent Regulations include a special provision for players earning below a certain threshold. For players whose annual remuneration is below the FIFA-defined low-income threshold, the commission cap that applies is 3% regardless of whether the agent represents the player, the club, or both. This provision is designed to protect lower-earning players from disproportionate agent fees.

Payment Through the FIFA Clearing House

For international transfers, all agent fees must be paid through the FIFA Clearing House — they cannot be paid directly between clubs and agents. The Clearing House verifies compliance, ensures the correct amounts are paid, and distributes funds to the registered agent. This creates a paper trail that FIFA uses to detect commission violations.

Dual Representation — Written Consent Requirements

Dual representation is legal but strictly regulated. Before representing both the player and the club in the same transaction, the agent must:

• Obtain prior written informed consent from the player
• Obtain prior written informed consent from the club
• Disclose the dual representation arrangement in writing to both parties
• Register the dual representation on the FIFA Football Agent Platform

Commission Splitting Between Agents

When two agents cooperate on a transaction — for example, one representing the player and one representing the club — the total commission across both agents still cannot exceed the applicable cap. If Agent A charges the player 3% and Agent B charges the club 2%, the total is 5% — exactly at the dual representation cap. If Agent B charged 3%, the total 6% would violate the regulations.