Link to Jonathan Booker’s original LinkedIn post
“Due process matters. In regulation, process is not a side issue – it’s the core safeguard of legitimacy.”
Jonathan Booker’s recent excellent post on the FIFA Agent Exam problems caught my eye – and struck a personal chord. Jonathan eloquently highlights the challenges candidates are facing with inconsistent application of rules, unexplained failures, and the absence of any meaningful appeals mechanism.
I went through a very similar experience two years ago in 2023 when I (eventually) obtained my FIFA licence. I thought sharing my experience may be helpful to others in a similar position now.
My Experience: A broken exam
I sat the FIFA Agent Exam in the summer of 2023. I was confident. I had studied hard, including taking the excellent Professional Sports Agent course at Loughborough University in conjunction with the Cruyff Institute under the leadership of the inestimable Serhat Yilmaz. I had passed that with flying colours and completed all the mock papers successfully. I was one of perhaps 2,000 candidates who sat the exam at the Birmingham NEC.
On the day of the exam, the test centre in Birmingham was plagued by wifi and connectivity issues. Candidates were left confused and frustrated. I was among those directly affected. As a reminder the exam involves 20 multiple choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes. Its an open book exam in the sens that you are able to consult the relevant regulations etc but you really need to have prepared to well to understand what the question is asking and wher to check the regs for confirmation. Also some of the answers could include more than one correct option. The pass mark is 15/20.
I had given myself 5 mins to read through the paper at the beginning and allowed a 5 minute buffer at the end just in case. That left 50 minutes or 2.5 minutes per question. A handful could be done in less than a minute but some needed more time, more care, and even some calculations.
You would be halfway through a question when the connection would collapse. You would have to rejoin the wifi and log on again. Sometimes you lost where you were. Very quickly time just started evaporating. It sounds like an excuse but the one requirement for taking an online exam is a decent wifi connection! It was shambolic. I recall managing to get an answer for every question but I had not had anywhere near the time to make sure the answers were correct.
Shortly afterwards I received an email acknowledging “that there were technical issues which may have impacted the ability of some candidates to complete the assessment“. About a week later I received an invitation to resit the exam – meaning I had not passed. After some email exchanges it appears I had scored 14/20.
The resit re-shambles
I booked the resit which this time was remote using an independently contracted invigilation service. The instructions were to log on by 09.30 to prove ID and confirm process ahead of the 10.00 start time. I spoke to the invigilator who then disappeared to try to help another candidate who had not read the instructions and had the wrong browser installed. By 10.00 the invigilator had not returned so I started the exam. About 10.20 he reappeared and was extremely annoyed that I had started. I pointed out to him that it was a 10.00 start and I didn’t want to have issues over starting the exam late. I finished the exam and was happy with my performance.
I then received a notification that the invigilator had reported me and that I had been disqualified. The reason?
- “Started the exam before being given permission”
- “Use of a prohibited item (second monitor)”
Whilst I had a second moniitor on my desk (a lot of people who work remotely have a similar set up) I hadn’t used the monitor and it had been switched off for the exam duration as required. I started the exam at the correct time of 10.00. It wasn’t my fault the invigilator had too many supervision issues to deal with and only got back to me at 10.20
After what had happened at Birmingham I felt really let down and disappojnted by the whole process. There was also no right of appeal. This felt very arbitrary and unfair. Especially after all the time and money invested in the process. There was no opportunity to be heard, no explanation beyond that vague summary, and no recourse to challenge the decision formally.
What To Do If It Happens To You
If you’re in a similar position — and I know many are — here are a few steps I’d suggest:
- Request a Review
Politely but firmly ask your Member Association (in my case, The FA) and/or FIFA to review the decision. Set out your version of events clearly. Keep your tone factual and calm. This is the first — and most essential — step. - Save All Records
Retain your confirmation emails, screenshots, system checks, and any notes you took at the time. These may become valuable if the process opens to more formal review or litigation. - Connect with Others
You are not alone. Posts like Jonathan’s show just how many candidates feel mistreated. Shared experience may ultimately help build pressure for reform.
How I Resolved It
In my case, I didn’t give up. I wrote to the FA explaining the situation in detail. I emphasised that I had complied fully, challenged the assertion about the second monitor, and requested a full reconsideration. The FA passed the matter to FIFA who reviewed my case and on 26 October 2023 FIFA wrote to me by email saying that they had reviewed the position and confirmed I had successfully passed with a score of 18/20.
My licence was subsequently issued.
The Bigger Picture: Yes to Regulation, No to Kafka
I am in favour of the better regulation of football agents. I am in favour of benchmark standards of accreditation, ongoing CPD requirements and even mandatory indemnity insurance. These are good things — not threats. If there is to be a minimum entry requirement of passing an exam then more thought and resource needs to be invested in that process. What we have seen over the last 2 years since the new regulations have been implemented has been poor.
FIFA needs to work with agents and others involved in the accreditation process, not simply imposing top down regulation. It needs to foster ongoing development and engagement, support genuine professionalisation, and uphold basic fairness in how the system is run.
Final Thoughts
To those affected by the exam process: don’t stay silent. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. And while the path to resolution may not be clear, taking that first step — requesting a review — is vital.
Thank you again to Jonathan for shining a light on an issue that deserves far more attention.
This post reflects my personal experience and views. If you’ve been affected by a similar issue or would like support navigating the process, feel free to get in touch.
This article is written in a personal capacity and does not represent the views of any panel or authority on which I serve.