FIFA warns parents about fraudulent football agents targeting young players

FIFA has drawn attention to the dangers posed by fraudulent, or “fake”, football agents and urged parents to play an active role in protecting young players from exploitation.

The warning appears in the September 2026 edition of the FIFA Legal Handbook, which includes guidance for parents on football agents. The issue is particularly relevant in South Africa, where concerns about dishonest agents are known.

FIFA defines fraudulent football agents as people who falsely claim to hold regulated status. In football, that means claiming to be licensed by FIFA, while presenting themselves as legitimate representatives.

The organisation says such individuals use unethical and criminal methods to exploit players and their families for personal gain.

“Fake football agents often use deceptive tactics to engage with their victims and commit fraud,” FIFA said. “They may use false credentials or promise opportunities that do not exist, ultimately leading to financial or emotional harm.”

The handbook describes the practice as an integrity problem in football and says young or inexperienced players are especially vulnerable.

FIFA says fake agents often make “unfounded and unrealistic promises” about trials, transfers and lucrative contracts. Those claims can be used to gain a player’s or family’s trust before control is established.

The next stage may involve demands for money in exchange for the opportunities that were promised. FIFA says agents can then disappear after receiving payment, either from a family in its home country or after a player has left home to pursue the supposed opportunity.

“In such situations, players are abandoned in a foreign location, left vulnerable and exposed to further exploitation,” the amended handbook says.

Rules for representing minors

The handbook also explains FIFA’s licensing system, under which people must obtain a licence from FIFA before providing football agent services.

Parents are specifically advised to check an agent’s status when their child is under 18. The agent must not only be licensed but also authorised to work with minors.

“Without this authorisation, it is prohibited under the regulatory regime for a football agent to approach you as a parent or enter into a representation agreement with your child,” FIFA states.

The organisation says parents should always verify that authorisation before discussing representation.

The handbook further says a child’s rights must be treated as fundamental entitlements rather than optional considerations. Parents should ensure their actions do not infringe those rights and should create an environment in which the child’s views and needs are valued.

It also calls on parents to take proactive steps to protect children from harm or mistreatment, including abuse by external parties such as football agents, while ensuring that all relevant laws and regulations designed to protect children are followed.