New FIFA rules

The FIFA and the International Players Syndicate FIFPro have reached an agreement on Friday about the new international transfer regulations.

According to the new regulations FIFPro may provide members for an independent court, which will decide about soccer conflicts. The clubs will also be represented in this body. The agreement puts an end to the legal actions of the FIFPro.

One of the most important changes to the new transfer regulations is the fact that there will be only two transfer periods, in December and in June. From Saturday, the clubs will have to wait more than three months before they can buy or sell a foreign player. The new regulations also state that a player only may change clubs one time per season. If the player breaks his contract during the "protected period" (the first 3 years for a player younger than 28 years; the first 2 years for a player older than 28 years), he will get sportive (maximum 4 months suspension) and financial sanctions. After this "protected period" there are only financial penalties.


There will also be financial compensations for clubs whose youth players leave to sign a prof-contract somewhere else (in Belgium these cases are regulated by regional decrees). Minors are protected and possible transfers are strictly regulated. The chairmans of both parties, Sepp Blatter (FIFA) and Gordon Taylor (FIFPro), stated to be very satisfied with the reached agreement.