In a statement on the News page of its website (http://www.jfa.jp/eng/news/00002330/), the JFA confirmed that, “the JFA’s players’ agent regulation will be terminated as of the end of March, 2015. Accordingly, certified players agent licenses will become invalid as of the same date.”  The JFA further confirmed that it would introduce its own version of the intermediaries regulations, which would be formulated “in principle” on FIFA’s regulations, by March 2015.

The regulations introduced by the JFA will lay down a system for intermediary registration and procedures and will be “targeted to prevent any antisocial parties from taking up an intermediary duty”.  The JFA is also considering additional measures “to maintain safe and fair transactions and market transparency”.

The JFA’s announcement also confirms that if an agent’s representation contract with a player or club overlaps with the introduction of the new system on 1 April 2015, that contract will remain valid and enforceable (until its expiry date) even once the new system is in place.  However, in such case the player or club will be obliged to register their current agent as an intermediary with the JFA promptly after 1 April 2015.

We will continue to update the News section of this website when other national associations reveal their intentions or publish their regulations to be introduced on a national level.