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The Zurich-based Professional Football Agents
Association (PROFAA) submitted the appeal to CAS, sport's
highest court, in Switzerland after FIFA introduced a new
regulatory framework in January. The new rules will come into
force on Oct. 1.
PROFAA's claims that the regulations violate competition and
European Union laws have been "dismissed in their entirety", CAS
said. The agents' group said it was "extremely disappointed" by
the decision.
"PROFAA will carefully examine the ruling before deciding the
next steps and will continue to support any and all litigation
against these regulations, specifically the introduction of a
commission cap," the group added.
FIFA wants to limit agents to taking a maximum 3% commission for
any transfer of more than $200,000 and 5% for deals less than
$200,000. There will be a 10% cap on earnings when agents act
for the selling club.
The rules also require agents to hold a license, for which they
must pass a new examination by Oct. 1. Agents first took the
exam in April, with only 52% of the 3,800 candidates obtaining
the required mark to pass.
Other major changes include prohibition of multiple
representation to avoid conflicts of interest and payment of
agent fees through FIFA's financial clearing house.
"FIFA welcomes today's ruling ... that fully confirms the
legality, validity and proportionality of the FIFA Football
Agent Regulations (FFAR)," the governing body said.
"The award confirms FIFA's position that the FFAR are a
reasonable and proportionate regulatory measure that help to
resolve systemic failures in the player transfer system."
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad)
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