Malaysia's surprise FIFA Player's Agent Exam

The Football Association of Malaysia made an unexpected internet announcement on Tuesday that it will be holding a written examination today for Malaysian candidates wishing to be licensed as FIFA-registered Player’s Agents. The world football authority only accepts Players' Agents through the national football association, such as the FAM, where the applicant is a resident and/or a citizen. According to FIFA, there are currently only two FIFA Player's Agents in all of the 11 member nations of the ASEAN Football Association: Malaysia's Roland Klein (currently operating from Qatar) and The Philippines' Sheila S Que.

In accordance with FIFA regulations, the examination will consist of fifteen questions on international regulations and five on national regulations. Candidates are required to familiarise themselves with the FIFA Regulations for Status and Transfers of Players as well as the FIFA Players Agent Regulations

"A candidate should obtain at least 65% of the total amount of possible points in order to successfully pass the examination," said Dato’ Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad, the general secretary of FAM. Furthermore, a licence will only be granted by FIFA to a candidate who, passing the examination, produces a receipt of the required professional liability insurance policy and signs the code of professional conduct.

FAM's website advised candidates "desirous of sitting for the examination" at 8.00 PM on 30 March 2006 at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, "should register their interest with the FAM in writing and faxed it to +61 (0)3 7875 7984 BEFORE 2 pm on 30 March 2006".

FAM claimed the "late notification of details of this examination is due to the fact that the FAM has just received confirmation from FIFA allowing the national body to hold the examination on the date stipulated".

UPDATE: Asian Football Business Review has been informed (31 March) that the Football Association of Singapore intends to hold a FIFA Player's Agent examination in September 2006.