Would-be Football Agents Complain Fifa’s Faulty Online Exam Causes One-year Delay

Technical problems pinch Fifa’s online shot supplier exam person prevented candidates from completing nan test, pinch galore told they will person to hold 12 months for their adjacent opportunity.

New regulations connected agents introduced astatine nan commencement of this twelvemonth mean candidates must complete 20 multiple‑choice questions online alternatively than be a trial successful person, usually astatine their nationalist federation’s headquarters. It is understood nan alteration was made by Fifa to supply consistency complete nan cost, pinch candidates now paying $100 (or nan balanced successful pounds aliases Euros) to beryllium nan yearly exam, which took spot for nan first clip connected 18 June.

The Guardian has been contacted by applicants from respective countries, including nan United Kingdom, who person complained that they were incapable to complete nan one-hour trial owing to nan method difficulties. It is understood candidates were asked earlier their trial to download software, which was past checked by an online invigilator. But issues pinch nan package meant they were often near pinch insufficient clip to reply nan questions aliases recovered immoderate answers had not been recorded.

“I attempted respective times to hole nan rumor by disconnecting and reconnecting, but it took complete 25 minutes earlier nan relationship was restored,” wrote 1 campaigner from Niger successful a missive to Fifa seen by nan Guardian. “Once I was allowed to resume, location were only astir 10 minutes remaining connected nan exam. On July 3, 2025, I received my results and was amazed to spot that I had grounded pinch a people of 11 retired of 20. However, among nan 9 questions marked arsenic incorrect, 7 were shown arsenic blank, moreover though I intelligibly retrieve answering them earlier submission, 1 displayed a prime that I americium definite I ne'er selected, and it does not lucifer nan reply I intended to choose.”

Another campaigner from nan UK said he had been told by his invigilator that “the rumor was not related to my instrumentality aliases net connection, but alternatively to nan level itself. After respective unsuccessful attempts, nan invigilator advised maine to disconnect and assured maine that she would taxable a elaborate study to Fifa, explicitly stating that I had been incapable to participate owed to a force majeure situation, arsenic defined successful article 12 of nan Fifa shot supplier exam rules (March 2025 edition). It is peculiarly frustrating to now spot my exertion rejected without immoderate clarification, contempt having fulfilled each requirements, acted diligently, and paid nan afloat registration fee.”

Fifa office successful Zurich, Switzerland. Candidates for nan shot supplier exam person cited delays successful downloading package cutting into their clip to reply questions. Photograph: Til Buergy/EPA

It is understood that immoderate candidates were allowed to resit nan exam connected 30 June but that galore person been informed, successful an email that stated they had nary correct to appeal, they will person to hold until adjacent year. “This disparity raises superior concerns regarding consistency and adjacent treatment,” nan UK campaigner said.

The Guardian has forwarded each nan complaints to Fifa. World football’s governing assemblage declined to remark but it is understood to beryllium alert of immoderate complaints that are being handled connected a case-by-case ground and it is satisfied that nan mostly of nan candidates were capable to return nan exam pinch nary method problems. Fifa is believed to beryllium monitoring nan business but is understood to person been reassured by providers that location is nary rumor pinch nan exam platform.

A campaigner from Turkmenistan, who says he had 27 minutes to complete their exam owing to method difficulties and nan nonaccomplishment of nan system’s translator tool, described nan acquisition arsenic “extremely upsetting”. “The examiner promised to taxable an charismatic study and pass Fifa of nan situation,” he wrote. “She besides told maine that Fifa would interaction maine soon regarding this incident. However, 2 weeks person now passed, and I person not received immoderate response.” It is understood that a further fortnight later nan business has not changed.

A root told nan Guardian: “The strategy hasn’t been moving decently and location person been truthful galore complaints but they aren’t really doing thing astir it. Lots of group person put loads of clip and effort into revising and to not beryllium capable to return nan exam is really unfair. It’s a shambles.”