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FIBA Approves Italian Basketball Federation’s Regulations Governing Player Agents

In April, FIBA approved the Italian Basketball Federation’s (FIP) Regulations Governing Player Agents.  The Regulations are embedded at the bottom of this post and intend to regulate agents who represent all basketball players affiliated with FIP.

In order for an agent to identify himself as an Authorized FIP Agent, he must be registered with FIP and/or FIBA.  The NFLPA requires all applicants to have a post-graduate degree.  FIP only asks that the agent has a high school (or equivalent) diploma.  Applicants must also pass an exam to become a licensed FIP agent.

Agents who place their players outside of the United States are known to be paid directly by the teams.  However, Article 8(5) states that if the agent’s compensation is not explicitly determined by the parties, the compensation will be 5% of the athlete’s gross compensation.  Thus, athletes need to be careful to include a paragraph regarding Agent Fees their contracts with agents; especially if there is an oral understanding that the agent will be paid directly by the teams instead of by the player.  Article 8(5) could effectively allow an agent to double dip, earning a Fee from the signing team and the player who signs with the club, depending on the language of the representation agreement and the contract that the player signs with the club.


By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

2 replies on “FIBA Approves Italian Basketball Federation’s Regulations Governing Player Agents”

 Poorly written article. Perhaps you should link to the Italian regulations and better explain what the crux of the regulations are that you are trying to convey in this post?

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