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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Football could introduce new transfer rule to let players buy out their contracts in radical move that would slash fees
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. Scroll down to see how some stars' values will be impacted by the proposed change MON£Y BAWL Football could introduce new transfer rule to let players buy out their contracts in radical move that would slash fees Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MASSIVE transfer fees could soon become a thing of the past — with players' chiefs wanting stars to have freedom to break their contracts for a fixed compensation payment. The international players' union FifPro has accused Fifa of dragging its feet over new transfer rules after the European Court agreed that ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star Lassana Diarra was illegally "handcuffed" by Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow a decade ago. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 A major case involving ex-Chelsea star Lassana Diarra could make massive transfer fees a thing of the past Credit: Getty 5 The ruling from the European Court means inflated transfer fees could be a thing of the past Credit: EPA 5 The likes of Alexander Isak would be able to buy out their contract rather than being marooned while clubs argue over a transfer fee Credit: Alamy Major agents claimed the October ruling was the first step towards a US-style 'free agency' for players, with fees becoming a thing of the past and stars only liable to pay the balance of their contracts when they switch clubs. Top clubs and Fifa are battling to resist such a move, while this summer Prem clubs already splashed out £375million before the full market officially opens tomorrow. But now FifPro has told stars and their lawyers to be ready to test Fifa's failure to react and use European law to push for freedom of movement. FifPro legal chief Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud said: 'Every worker should have the right to end a contractual relationship. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL PLAYING AWAY? Kieran Trippier parties with mystery blondes as star's wife consults lawyers 'Knowing how much you will have to pay as compensation is part of that right. 'Also, the fact you leave your job should not prevent you from being hired in another job, which is what was happening in football.' Even the giants of the game may be forced into a major rethink by the repercussions of a row sparked in Moscow a decade ago. Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Diarra may not have really impacted the Prem in his four seasons, which brought just 44 top-flight games. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Yet Diarra's win at the European Court of Justice looks increasingly likely to significantly change the way the transfer market works. If FifPro is right, the result will be for all players to have the right to break their contracts. Transfer fees could be SCRAPPED forever after Lassana Diarra wins landmark court case against Fifa It would see players worth £100m on the open market suddenly available for a fraction of that sum. Of course, any new regulations will not be introduced this summer. Fifa rushed through a series of temporary transfer regulations, with dire warnings of the 'collapse' of the transfer market unleashing 'chaos'. But FifPro remains unconvinced the latest moves from Zurich meet the demands of EU law. One insider explained: 'This could be the last few years of the inflated transfer fees we have all seen. 'The European Court has said that football must operate within EU law. 5 'Football is the outlier. There's no other industry — other than maybe thoroughbred horses — where you see employees change hands for millions of pounds and it is time for the game to be brought in step.' Gomez Bruinewoud added: 'The judges in the Diarra case explained why the system was against EU law. 'I'm not afraid to say the same Fifa rules are probably also against most national labour laws.' Top players will benefit from higher wages and longer deals, though with budgets finite, that would mean less cash and shorter deals for players further down the pecking order — and limited job security in the lower tiers. Prem club bosses also fear the consequences, arguing the effective abolition of fees would blow up the entire footballing pyramid as money would no longer 'trickle down'. It is likely that, as with the Jean-Marc Bosman courtroom saga that turned European football on its head 30 years ago, it will need another player to be the test case to break the current system. But it seems that challenge is a matter of time from being made. And with the players' union backing, the most fundamental change the game has ever seen. 5 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Football could introduce new transfer rule to let players buy out their contracts in radical move that would slash fees
MASSIVE transfer fees could soon become a thing of the past — with players' chiefs wanting stars to have freedom to break their contracts for a fixed compensation payment. The international players' union FifPro has accused Fifa of dragging its feet over new transfer rules after the 5 A major case involving ex-Chelsea star Lassana Diarra could make massive transfer fees a thing of the past Credit: Getty 5 The ruling from the European Court means inflated transfer fees could be a thing of the past Credit: EPA 5 The likes of Alexander Isak would be able to buy out their contract rather than being marooned while clubs argue over a transfer fee Credit: Alamy Major agents claimed the October ruling was the But now FifPro has told stars and their lawyers to be FifPro legal chief Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud said: 'Every worker should have the right to end a contractual relationship. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'Knowing how much you will have to pay as compensation is part of that right. 'Also, the fact you leave your job should not prevent you from being hired in another job, which is what was happening in football.' Even the giants of the game may be forced into a major rethink by the repercussions of a row sparked in Moscow a decade ago. Former Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Yet Diarra's win at the European Court of Justice looks increasingly likely to significantly change the way the transfer market works. If FifPro is right, the result will be for all players to have the right to break their contracts. Transfer fees could be SCRAPPED forever after Lassana Diarra wins landmark court case against Fifa It would see players worth £100m on the open market suddenly available for a fraction of that sum. Of course, any new regulations will not be introduced this summer. Fifa rushed through a series of temporary transfer regulations, with dire warnings of the 'collapse' of the transfer market unleashing 'chaos'. But FifPro remains unconvinced the latest moves from Zurich meet the demands of EU law. One insider explained: 'This could be the last few years of the inflated transfer fees we have all seen. 'The European Court has said that football must operate within EU law. 5 'Football is the outlier. There's no other industry — other than maybe thoroughbred horses — where you see employees change hands for millions of pounds and it is time for the game to be brought in step.' Gomez Bruinewoud added: 'The judges in the Diarra case explained why the system was against EU law. 'I'm not afraid to say the same Fifa rules are probably also against most national labour laws.' Top players will benefit from higher wages and longer deals, though with budgets finite, that would mean less cash and shorter deals for players further down the pecking order — and limited job security in the lower tiers. Prem club bosses also fear the consequences, arguing the effective abolition of fees would blow up the entire footballing pyramid as money would no longer 'trickle down'. It is likely that, as with the Jean-Marc Bosman courtroom saga that turned European football on its head 30 years ago, it will need another player to be the test case to break the current system. But it seems that challenge is a matter of time from being made. And with the players' union backing, the most fundamental change the game has ever seen. 5
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
FIFPro Releases Report Slamming FIFA Over Congested Schedule; Demands Changes For Player Well-Being
Last Updated: FIFPro's report called for match limits, mid-season breaks, and mandatory summer holidays to protect footballers from excessive workload and calendar congestion. Enough is enough. Footballers, just like other athletes, deserve rest too. Professional football must introduce match limits, mid-season breaks, and compulsory summer holidays to protect players, a report commissioned by FIFPro stated on Thursday. FIFPro is the global players' union while European Leagues brings together more than one thousand clubs from 33 countries around Europe. Its member leagues include the English Premier League, as well as the leagues in Italy, Germany and France, but not La Liga, which joined the complaint separately. Citing recent European court rulings related to the breakaway Super League and the Lassana Diarra case, the FIFPro ealier last year had said FIFA's rules and conduct 'harm the economic interests of national leagues, and the health and safety of players in European football". 'A legal challenge before the European Commission has become a necessary course of action to safeguard the European football sector," they added. FIFA has been accused of a failure to consult over recent changes to the calendar, such as the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup, which has drawn much criticism regarding player well-being. To substantiate their earlier grievances, FIFPro now announced that a study on 'calendar congestion and excessive workload" by 70 specialists working in professional men's football for clubs and national teams recommended safety standards, which, according to the report, international football currently lacks. The report made 12 recommendations and highlighted several in a press release. These included mandatory four-week off-season breaks, with two of those weeks being commitment-free, and compulsory mid-season breaks. It also advocated for a minimum four-week retraining period after off-season breaks before players return to competition. On top of it all, in order to manage travel fatigue, the report mentioned that governing bodies should ensure rest periods after long-haul flights. It was also noted that specific workload safeguards should be introduced for players under 21, while urging 'seasonal match limits and fixture congestion controls" across all levels of football. FIFPro has led criticism of the lucrative 32-team tournament, which has been crammed into an already overloaded schedule. The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take place from June 14. First Published: June 12, 2025, 18:32 IST
