FIFA Ready to Negotiate Potential Transfer Rule Changes

FIFA is set to begin high-level discussions about the intricacies of its lucrative player-transfer system after a recent court decision threw its legitimacy into question. 

On Monday, 10 days after some of FIFA’s transfer rules were declared contrary to European Union law by the Court of Justice of the EU, soccer’s governing body announced it will open a global dialogue on the transfer system, involving key stakeholders—think leagues, clubs, agents, players’ unions—to adopt the policy in question, which is article 17 of FIFA’s regulations on the status and transfer of players. A statement said the move “is in line with FIFA’s strategic objective to further improve the transfer system.”

While big changes could be coming to the always-entertaining summer and winter FIFA transfer windows, it will also provide an opportunity to keep modernizing the current process that has been in place for two decades, FIFA chief legal and compliance officer Emilio García Silvero said in a video posted online. “Given the interval of over 20 years, and given the manner in which football has developed during this period, FIFA looks forward to developing its regulatory framework further,” Silvero said.

In the most recent transfer window, clubs committed to spending nearly $6.5 billion on acquiring new players.

So far, there are no indications FIFA wants to challenge the ruling. “FIFA will always act in compliance with European law and it will make sure to maintain hand in hand with its stakeholders a modern and robust valid regulatory framework for international football,” Silvero said.