According to Article 6.1 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), players may only be registered during one of the two annual Registration Periods fixed by the relevant Association. However, there are two exceptions to this rule. This article is dedicated to the exceptions concerning a breach of contract.
FIFA Ref. No. 11-02113, preliminary decision of 21 November 2011
FIFA Ref. No. 15-01482, preliminary decision of 30 November 2015
FIFA Ref. No. IR18-00628, letter of 1 November 2018
The first exception
The RSTP provide for an exception to the rule that players may only be registered during registration periods, namely for professionals whose contracts have expired prior to the end of a registration period, i.e. so-called unemployed players, provided due consideration is given to the sporting integrity of the relevant competition.
Although not expressly mentioned by the RSTP, a player who has mutually agreed with his club on the early termination of the employment relationship before the expiry of the registration period also falls under the aforementioned exception. The mutual termination of the employment contract must occur before the end of the registration period for the player to fall...
Why not join us?
Football Legal is an independent media publishing football law contents on a daily basis dedicated to all football law practitioners (lawyers, clubs, federations, intermediaries, football stakeholders, etc.).
Register today and stay tuned to the latest legal news.
Get started
