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Football Manager: License, Commission Limit, Representation Agreement and Sanctions TFF Football Managers Instruction (27.06.2025), FIFA license, notarized representation agreement and disciplinary responsibility have been updated as of 2026
In Türkiye, the person who will carry out transfer and contract negotiations on behalf of the football player or the club must first obtain a license from FIFA and then from the TFF. The representation contract made with the football player can last a maximum of two years, is drawn up by a notary and is not automatically extended. The commission that can be received on behalf of the football player is limited to 10 percent if the gross income is less than two million TL during the contract period, and 5 percent if it is more than 2 million TL; Exceeding the limit will result in the cancellation of the manager's license. In the guide, the licensing process, the elements that must be included in the contract, the calculation of the commission, the rules of working with underage football players and the sanctions for the player, the club and the manager are explained according to the current instruction text.
Management activities are regulated by the Football Managers Instruction, which was adopted by the TFF Board of Directors' decision dated 23.06.2025 and numbered 42 and entered into force by being published on the TFF website on 27.06.2025. The instruction replaces the previous regulation dated 2023. The previous instruction was abolished by the decision of the Board of Directors dated 10.01.2024, after the TFF Arbitration Board annulled some articles and FIFA suspended the provisions regarding wage limits. For this reason, the old commission and penalty amounts still circulating on the internet are not up to date.
FIFA Football Managers Regulations also come into play in international transfers. The instruction stipulates that international disputes will be resolved in accordance with FIFA regulations and international violations will be pursued through FIFA mechanisms.
According to the instruction, the license has two stages. First, a football representative license is obtained from FIFA; Then it is registered with TFF. For the TFF license, a FIFA license must be present, Annex-1 commitment must be signed and submitted and the fee determined by the TFF must be paid. The license is issued at the beginning of each season; Re-application is required for a license that is not issued for three seasons.
If the manager works under the umbrella of the company, unlicensed employees cannot negotiate and the manager becomes jointly liable for the violations of the company employees. Working with an unlicensed person will result in sanctions not only for the manager, but also for the player and the club.
Shape The representation contract made with the football player is prepared by a notary; The sample text in Annex 2 can be used
Duration Maximum two years; automatic extension provisions are invalid, extension is only possible with a new contract
exclusivity Only one representation contract can be entered into at a time; If there is more than two months until the end of the exclusive contract with another manager, it is forbidden to meet with the represented person.
Notification Notarized copies are sent to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and TFF within 30 days after signature.
independent negotiation It should be clearly stated in the contract that the player can negotiate without the manager; Provisions that restrict or penalize independent discussion are void.
The Directive also provides for a written notification prior to the contract stating that the player must seek independent legal advice and the player's written confirmation that he has received this advice or has decided not to seek it. This document is also important in terms of objections that may be raised against surprise provisions of the contract in the future.
4. How is the Commission Limit Calculated?
On behalf of the football player: maximum 10 percent if the football player's gross income during the contract period is below 2,000,000 TL, and maximum 5 percent if it is above.
On behalf of the former club: maximum 10 percent of the transfer fee. Earnings in kind, success bonuses, bonuses and non-guaranteed benefits are not included in the calculation. Fees are paid against an invoice. For underage football players, wages can only arise from a professional contract in accordance with TFF regulations.
For other representatives, the fee is determined according to the contract between the parties and is not subject to these limits. The manager is prohibited from increasing wage limits; If the limit is exceeded, the license will be canceled and a fine may also be imposed. FIFA's own wage limits in its regulations have been suspended internationally; Therefore, the border in domestic law and the situation at FIFA level should be evaluated separately.
The interview can be held a maximum of six months before the age at which the football player can sign his first professional contract, and written permission must be obtained from the legal representative before the interview. The manager must have completed the required CPD course on the FIFA platform. The contract is signed by the legal representative and the football player. In case of violation of the rules, the manager's license may be suspended for a maximum of two years (Art. 14/6).
It is forbidden for the manager to encourage the termination of a football player whose contract is still ongoing, to make or offer illegal payments, to hide material facts from the representative, to be involved in bridge transfers and to receive transfer fees or training compensation contrary to FIFA rules. For football players and club officials, it is prohibited to make a contract with an unlicensed person, to offer benefits other than wages and to try to exceed wage limits.
manager Warning; Fine between 1,000,000 TL and 5,000,000 TL; Deprivation of rights for up to 60 days; license suspension for a maximum of two transfer periods; license cancellation
Football player and coach Warning; fine depending on the league (Super League between 1,000,000 TL and 5,000,000 TL; 3rd League between 125,000 TL and 500,000 TL); Banned for up to eight matches; deprivation of rights for up to four months
Club Warning; fine depending on the league (Super League between 2,000,000 TL and 10,000,000 TL); Ban on registration for a maximum of two transfer periods
If an unreported additional agreement is detected, the manager's license will be cancelled, the player will be banned from three months to one year, and the club managers will be deprived of rights for two to three years (Article 14/5). The Professional Football Disciplinary Board examines domestic law violations; The decisions can be appealed to the Arbitration Board. In private law disputes arising from the contract, the authority of the Dispute Resolution Board is subject to the acceptance of the parties.
A football player has agreed in writing with a manager to renew his contract with a 1st League club. The management contract is signed in ordinary writing, is drawn up for a period of three years, and contains a provision that 'the contract is automatically renewed'. The manager requests a commission of 12 percent of the player's total gross income after renewal.
According to the instructions, the representation contract made with the football player must be drawn up by a notary, must not exceed two years, and the automatic extension provision must be deemed invalid. The three-year period and the automatic renewal provision run counter to these limits. Since the commission is also limited to 10 percent or 5 percent based on gross income, the 12 percent request is above the limit; There is a risk that payment exceeding the limit may result in disciplinary liability for both the manager, the player and the club. At this stage, the player's making the contract in line with the limits, not making any additional payments and tying the calculation to an invoice will reduce both disciplinary and receivable disputes that may arise later.
What happens if I work with an unlicensed manager?
There may be sanctions for the player and the club, including fines, bans, deprivation of rights, and registration bans for clubs. Payment made to an unlicensed person also creates problems in terms of proof and recovery.
Can I terminate the management contract before its due date?
The right of termination is evaluated according to the content of the contract, the mandatory rules of the instruction and the provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations on power of attorney and justified termination. In a contract that is not notarized or exceeds the time limit, non-compliance with the instructions is one of the strongest grounds of objection available to the football player.
Can the manager also receive commission from the club?
As a rule, payment is made from the represented party. Representing two parties in the same transaction is subject to conflict of interest rules and written consent requirements; A clear provision on this issue should be included in the contract.
Not notarizing the representation agreement or notifying it within 30 days after signature.
Determining the period to be longer than two years or introducing an automatic extension provision.
Agreeing on the commission percentage limit or paying the difference with an additional protocol.
Making payments without an invoice, outside the bank record or to a third party account.
Signing a contract without checking the manager's license status and season visa.
The biggest risk in a management relationship is not complying with the form and duration rules of the contract and exceeding the commission limit. These errors are often not noticed at the time of signing; When a dispute or disciplinary investigation occurs, both the validity of the contract and the fate of the paid amount become questionable. The current instruction has also made the sanctions significantly heavier.
Küheylan Law Firm; It provides legal support to football players, clubs and managers regarding the preparation of representation contracts in accordance with the instructions, commission and conflict of interest evaluation, Professional Football Disciplinary Board and Arbitration Board processes and manager receivables disputes.
Important Legal Notice: The legal explanations contained in this guide have been prepared by Küheylan Law Firm for general information purposes and do not constitute legal advice. In sports law, federation instructions change frequently, objection and application periods are short; Since each file has its own unique conditions, it is recommended to get support from a lawyer before taking action. © 2026 Küheylan Law Firm. All rights reserved.
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