Hundreds of football agents arrive at ExCeL London for their hour-long, rigorous FIFA exam

There are pictures of several football agents arriving at ExCel London before taking a FIFA exam that they must pass in order to stay in the game.

Agents must successfully pass the hour-long, rigorous exam to keep their license, leaving hundreds of them sweating about their future in the game.

If the hopefuls screw up Wednesday’s test, they’ll have a shot at a retake in September, but they’ll fail and be banned from being a licensed agent.

Because of this, they are not allowed to negotiate transfers and contracts, and are not allowed to talk to clubs, players and families of players, unless in the company of a registered agent. The exam stems from FIFA’s decision to re-regulate the industry following deregulation in 2015.

And on Wednesday, hundreds of officers arrived before the exam started at 2 p.m.

The exam comes after FIFA’s decision to re-regulate the industry following deregulation in 2015

Agents must successfully pass the hour-long, rigorous exam to keep their license, leaving hundreds of them sweating about their future in the game

Among them was Agent Team AJ’s Michael Jarman – who counts Horace Danjuma, Patrick van Aanholt and Lionesses star and Euro 2022 hero Chloe Kelly among his clients.

Elsewhere, former Sheffield United defender and coach Chris Morgan was also caught attending ExCel London.

After FIFA deregulated the industry eight years ago, there was an influx of new agents required to pay as little as £500 to register with the FA, with some questioning the quality and motivations of some of these individuals.

It is feared that up to 80 percent of entrants could fail the exam, with some long-serving officers ‘exempt’. Prior to 2015, the same test had a success rate of less than 20 percent, and officers fear the ratio will be similar.

This means that the number of licensed agents, which currently exceeds 2,000 in the UK, is likely to be slashed as the October deadline for paper passing approaches.

The exam consists of 20 multiple-choice questions, has a 75 percent pass rate and candidates have access to a 528-page study document of FIFA regulations on their laptops.

Key aspects include rules on transfers, training fees, working with minors, the agent licensing system, commission caps, conflicts of interest, and disciplinary and legal systems.

However, agents have told Mail Sport that it’s not as simple as finding the pages you need — even with the “find” shortcut — and that it’s more about understanding the query and interpreting often complex language.

Agent Michael Jarman (pictured with coffee cup) who is part of the entourage of Anthony Joshua and Arnaut Danjuma, Patrick van Aanholt and Lionesses star Chloe Kelly counts among his clients

Ex-Sheffield United defender and coach Chris Morgan (second from left) was in attendance

Agents check in ahead of £300 exam, with fears up to 80 per cent of them could fail

A civil servant helps manage officers at ExCel London as hundreds take the £300 exam

The mock-paper FIFA website crashed for a while on Tuesday, with so many users trying to access the portal to cram at the last minute. Some agents even hired lawyers to help them with revision.

It is expected that many parents of players who have represented their sons in recent years – such as Tony, Mason Mount’s father – will not take the exam or will struggle to pass it. Tony Mount even teams up with Agent Neil Fewings.

Mail Sport has been told this will be welcomed by many in the game, especially as family members can get emotional during negotiations.

There were also questions about whether Mark Bellingham – whom Mail Sport understands has studied for the exam in a bid to represent his son ahead of a much-anticipated summer transfer away from Borussia Dortmund – and Harry Kane’s brother Charlie, who is the captain representing England. – would attend.

Insiders also told Mail Sport that they can see the pros and cons of the move to reintroduce the exam.

An agent said: ‘The idea of ​​removing those who have only entered the industry in recent years, and with the main motivation of making money at any cost, is a good thing.

“But the test does not take into account good agents who may not have the academic experience to pass this type of paper, which is very complex and not particularly relevant to an agent’s day-to-day work.

The FIFA exam consists of 20 multiple choice questions and has a pass rate of 75 percent

Mason Mount’s father, Tony, will not take the exam because he is working with Officer Neil Fewings

‘The test questions are usually about things you don’t need to know right away.

“It’s unfair in that regard, because you get scored on things that don’t really prove your credentials as a cop or otherwise.”

Those who fail the test can also remain employed by their agency as consultants, but sources say they could become a burden on employers given the need for graduate colleagues to guide them on agency matters.

A total of 6,586 candidates from 138 member associations have applied for Wednesday’s hour-long exam – which costs £300 – at various locations around the world.