What you are entitled to under FIFA's Football Agent Regulations, NFF rules, and Nigerian law — before you sign anything.
01
The commission cap
FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) 2023
FIFA regulations cap the total commission an agent can receive on any single transaction. This cap applies to all transactions involving players who are FIFA-regulated.
The cap is 3% of the player's remuneration if the agent represents the club, or 3% if the agent represents the player — with a combined maximum of 6% if the same agent represents both parties (which FIFA discourages). For players earning under USD 200,000 per year, the cap is 5%.
Many Nigerian athletes are charged 10–20% or more. This is illegal under FIFA regulations. If your agent is charging more, you have grounds to dispute the contract.
02
You have the right to see any contract before signing
FIFA FFAR, Article 16
No agent can legally require you to sign a contract without giving you time to read it and seek independent legal advice. Any agent who pressures you to sign immediately, without explanation, is violating your rights.
You are entitled to a minimum of 24 hours to review any representation agreement before signing. We recommend taking longer and having a lawyer or trusted adult review it with you.
03
Image rights belong to you
General principle of law
Your name, likeness, and image are yours. No contract can assign your image rights to an agent or club without your explicit, separate written consent. Image rights agreements must be separate from your playing contract.
Watch out for contracts that contain clauses like "all commercial rights" or "image and likeness in perpetuity". These are red flags that require legal review before signing.
04
Auto-renewal clauses
Contract law
Many agent representation agreements contain auto-renewal clauses — the contract renews automatically at the end of the term unless you actively cancel it within a specific window. If you miss this window, you can be locked in for another year.
Always check your contract for the phrase "automatically renews" or "unless terminated with [X] days notice". Set a calendar reminder well before the renewal date.
05
Protection for minors
FIFA FFAR, Article 12 + Child Rights Act (Nigeria)
If you are under 18, there are additional protections. Any agent representing a minor must hold specific minor authorisation from FIFA. Parents or legal guardians must co-sign any representation agreement. A minor cannot be bound by a contract signed without parental consent.
You can check whether an agent holds minor authorisation on the Rosta verified agents directory. If they claim to represent minors but are not listed, do not sign.
06
No fees before a trial or signing
FIFA FFAR + standard industry practice
A legitimate agent earns their money from a percentage of the deal they secure for you — after the deal is done. Any agent who asks for money upfront, before a trial, before a contract, or before any tangible result, is not operating legitimately.
If anyone asks you to pay to be scouted, pay for a trial, or pay to be on a list — stop. That is fraud. Report them to Rosta immediately.
Warning signs to watch for
Cannot provide a FIFA or NFF licence number. Ask for it. A licensed agent will have one. Check it on Rosta before signing anything.
Asks for money before any deal is done. Trial fees, registration fees, database fees — none of these are legitimate.
Guarantees a trial or contract. No agent can guarantee this. It is a promise they cannot keep and a classic scam tactic.
Pressures you to sign immediately. Urgency is a manipulation tactic. Any legitimate contract can wait 24 hours.
Contacted you unsolicited on Instagram or WhatsApp. Not automatically a scam — but treat any unsolicited approach with caution and verify before engaging.
Before you sign — checklist
Verify the agent's licence number on the Rosta verified agents directory
Check the commission rate — it should not exceed 3–5% of your remuneration
Read the full contract — do not sign anything you haven't read
Look for auto-renewal clauses and know when the cancellation window is
Check image rights clauses — make sure you retain control of your likeness
Upload the contract for a free Rosta review before signing
If under 18 — a parent or legal guardian must co-sign and the agent must have minor authorisation
Have a contract to review?
Upload it to Rosta for a free clause review before you sign. We flag dangerous terms.