Analysis of the new FIFA Football Agent Regulations from a European competition law perspective

In December 2022, FIFA adopted new regulations on agents, which have led to massive protests from agents in numerous countries. Specifically, agents are denouncing that these regulations breach several provisions of European and national law, including competition law (Arts. 101 and 102 TFEU), the freedom to provide services (Art. 56 TFEU) or data protection law (such as the GDPR).

This paper aims to examine whether and to what extent the provisions of these new regulations infringe European competition law, hence Arts. 101 and 102 TFEU. In this regard, clauses relating to the limitation of agents' service fees, the obligation to disclose information on their activities, the admissibility of the licensing system, or the prohibition of multiple representation will be discussed.

This paper was submitted as a final dissertation to the LL.M. in Competition Law and Economics of the Brussels School of Competition in the fall of 2024.