By Riath Al-samarrai
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The FA have faced renewed criticisms for their handling of the new FIFA agents’ exam with intermediaries worried that livelihoods are being put at risk.
Several agents fear their chances of achieving a pass were hindered by intermittent Wi-Fi when they took the 20-question digital paper at Wembley Stadium on May 22.
There have also been suggestions that some agents at the national stadium were openly using their phones while the one-hour exam was ongoing.
Since the assessment was introduced by FIFA last year it has been beset by teething problems. With agents needing a pass to be involved in contract and transfer negotiations, those at the first sitting, in London 13 months ago, faced lengthy delays on arrival, and the second, in Birmingham last September, was described as ‘chaotic’ amid claims of weak internet and public tannoy announcements in the hall.
The FA, who facilitate the test in this country on behalf of FIFA, is now receiving scrutiny for the third such exam at Wembley last week. One intermediary, who has worked with multiple players, told Mail Sport: ‘It was a nightmare. Our livelihood depends on passing this test and getting the licence.
Several agents fear their chances of achieving a pass were hindered by intermittent Wi-Fi at Wembley Stadium on May 22
Agents faced lengthy delays on arrival at the first exam at the London’s ExCel Arena last year
Agents need to pass the exams to be involved in contract and transfer negotiations (Pictured at the ExCel last year)
‘My Wi-Fi failed four times during the exam and you’re panicking and rushing to finish the exam. It shouldn’t be that hard to get this stuff right, but it was a bit farcical.
‘A good few of us were in that boat and were saying the same thing after we finished. If you fail it’s about six months until you get another go, so it’s really important.
‘The other thing was people using their phones – they were pinging all over the place and one fella even took a call. It’s meant to be an exam.
‘I’ve paid £300 to sit the exam and then spent on hotel and travel to get there. You want a fair go at it, but how can you when the Wi-Fi keeps falling off?’
The FA say out of roughly 750 candidates at Wembley only a handful complained to their invigilators about intermittent Wi-Fi. FIFA has been contacted comment.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
