The FIFA Changes The Rules in The Winter Transfer Market
As a result of the Diarra case, FIFA has decided to temporarily adapt Article 17 of the regulations on player transfers. The aim is to maintain a uniform framework worldwide, after losing the lawsuit against Lassana Diarra last October. These measures will be applied during the next winter transfer market, which opens in January 2025, while a definitive solution is still being worked on.
The new provisions will address topics such as compensation for contract termination, joint and several liability for payment of compensation, inducements to terminate contracts, international transfer certificates, and procedures before the Football Tribunal. FIFA has stated that it aims to provide regulatory stability and clarity during this transitional period.
Sanctions for inciting contract termination
If a contract is terminated without valid cause, the affected club will only receive compensation if it can prove that the buying club induced the player to break the agreement. In this case, the player could be suspended for up to six months, while the buying club would face a ban on signing players during the next two transfer windows.
Additionally, FIFA has granted greater flexibility to national jurisdictions, allowing potential conflicts to be resolved through collective agreements applicable in each country. FIFA will only intervene in exceptional cases.
These measures will only apply to the winter transfer market of 2025. After this period, FIFA will resume negotiations with football stakeholders to design a final regulation that respects the ruling of the European Court of Justice, which demands the free movement of professional footballers.
