Brussels, 18/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following lengthy discussions with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the European Commission has decided to close its investigations into the rules governing access to the profession of players' agent. This became possible after FIFA decided to review the rules that had been the subject of complaints. The formal procedure began in on October 1999 in response to a number of complaints received by the EP. In response the Commission subsequently sent at a statement of objections to FIFA as it considered that the FIFA rules amounted to anticompetitive practices in the profession particularly in relation to: a) The ban on players and clubs using the services of agents not licensed by FIFA; b) Companies not being allowed to become players' licensed agents; c) Access limited to persons able to lodge a CHF 200 000 deposit. FIFA decided to adopt a new regulation that entered into force on 1 March 2001 and were most recently amended on 3 April 2002. The criteria contained in the new rules for access to the profession are objective and transparent and no longer limit access to those who pay a high deposit to FIFA. Anyone wishing to become a players' agent will have to pass a multiple-choice test. The dates for the test and a large number of the questions are the same throughout the world. The deposit has been replaced by liability insurance to cover any claims for compensation from a player or club arising from activities which contravene the principles of these rules. The agent must also sign a Code of Professional Conduct containing the principles of professional integrity and transparency. The Commission believes that FIFA's aims of extending good practice, raising professional standards and protecting its members from unqualified or unscrupulous agents prevail over competition considerations. "As the most significant restrictive provisions have been removed, the need for a licence can be justified by the need to raise moral standards within the profession of players' agent," said Mario Monti, the Competition Commissioner.