FIFA removed a system that was primarily based on the qualification, recognition and registration of a certain limited number of agents and replaced it with a system whereby the barriers to entry were lowered but the scrutiny on specific transactions conducted using intermediaries was increased. The new regulation issued a set of guidelines to be implemented at the national level by football associations across the globe. Whilst these regulations proved controversial at the time, it attempted to bring about a uniform set of minimum standards to be applied across the board, with particular focus on disclosure and transparency in transactions and dealing with conflicts of interest.

UAE FA Guidelines

The UAE Football Association (“UAE FA”) adopted the guidelines on 30th June 2015 (“Guidelines”) and a summary of the key points of the Guidelines relating to the UAE are described below: 

Article 1 - Definition of an Intermediary