ITALY Trends and Developments Contributed by: Maurizio Marullo, Giorgio Vagnoni and Francesco Amoresano, LAWP Studio legale e tributario
For professional athletes and clubs, the decision sig - nals a more balanced approach between anti-avoid - ance enforcement and contractual freedom. While corporate image rights structures remain subject to scrutiny, the mere presence of tax efficiency is no longer sufficient to justify automatic reallocation of income. Sport Agents: The Entry Into Force of a New Regulation The legal framework governing sports agents in Italy has undergone a deep transformation, consistent with broader international trends, fully including intermedi - ary activity within the sphere of regulated professions under public law. From private intermediation to state-regulated profession Following Legislative Decree No 37/2021, Italy imple - mented its new framework regulating sports agents with Ministerial Decree No 218 of 2 December 2025, fully operational as of 3 February 2026. The Ministerial Decree introduces a unitary and con - sistent legal framework in one single regulation, which includes all provisions applicable to sport agents (as better summarised below). The cornerstone of the system is the National Regis - ter of Sports Agents, maintained by CONI (the Italian Olympic Committee) and publicly accessible online. Registration is mandatory in order to practice in Italy, and must be renewed annually. Therefore, the Italian Register integrates directly with national federations and public authorities, and includes a specific section for sports agent companies. Access to the profession: a multi-level system Entry into the profession in Italy is subject to meeting the following eligibility criteria and requirements: • completing a professional traineeship or accred - ited training course (unless exempt due to relevant academic qualifications); • passing a general examination administered by CONI (covering sports law, civil law and adminis - trative law); and
• passing a special examination organised by the relevant federation, assessing sport-specific regu - lations. This double-level examination system significant - ly exceeds the access requirements found in most jurisdictions. By way of comparison, under the FIFA Agents Regulation candidates are required to pass a single centralised examination in order to obtain a worldwide licence. In addition, agents must: • maintain professional liability insurance (without a deductible enforceable against third parties); and • complete at least 20 hours of continuing profes - sional development annually. Enforcement and criminal implications The most distinctive feature of the Italian reform con - cerns enforcement. Whereas international violations – such as breaches of commission caps or represen - tation limits – remain within FIFA’s disciplinary jurisdic - tion, Italian law attaches consequences that extend beyond sports justice. Operating without registration may lead to: • a fine of up to EUR10,000; • suspension or cancellation from the Register; and • referral for criminal prosecution under Article 348 of the Italian Criminal Code (unlawful exercise of a regulated profession). Clubs and athletes engaging unregistered intermedi - aries may also face disciplinary sanctions, creating a system of shared responsibility across the football ecosystem. The Abolition of the Sporting Bond in Italy Under the previous system, it was required that an athlete, once registered with a club, carried out sport - ing activity exclusively in the interest of that club for a predetermined period, thus creating a controversial bond limiting the rights of the athlete. Particularly in the amateur and youth sectors, this mechanism often tied athletes to clubs for many years, significantly
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