FIFA issues guidelines on contracts, the transfer window and finishing the season

There have been numerous discussions and rumours about how and when (and if?) the present season can be finished, and it is now clear that most involved with football are committed to finishing the season, whenever that becomes possible to do safely.

So talks have been going on with football’s governing bodies for many weeks, and now they FIFA have reached the stage to issue their official guidelines outlining the ways they want every country to conduct themselves after allowing for each country’s government decrees, and it is worth publishing the full document for discussion.

Okay here is the statement issued on FIFA.com:
Following the unprecedented disruption caused by COVID-19 at all levels of football, FIFA has worked on a series of recommendations and guidelines to address some of the key practical issues arising from the pandemic, especially with regard to player contracts and the transfer system generally.

This has been done in consultation with different stakeholders through a task force chaired by the FIFA Vice-President and chairman of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee, Vittorio Montagliani, and including representatives of clubs, players, leagues, national associations and confederations.

A set of principles has been unanimously agreed by the task force and was endorsed by the Bureau of the FIFA Council today.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly changed all the factual circumstances around football for this season. So, FIFA, together with the stakeholders, has come up with some practical ideas and proposals to tackle these new circumstances. Whilst this will not solve each and every problem, it should serve to bring a measure of stability and clarity to football for the foreseeable future. We hope that this collaborative effort, under the leadership of FIFA, can provide a positive example of how football can come together and show unity, solidarity and a spirit of compromise in order to face the challenging times ahead. But before these times come, one thing must be clear to everyone, especially now: health comes first, well before football,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Below is a summary of the main guidelines approved, which FIFA both hopes and expects will be followed around the world.

Expiry and commencement of player contracts:
Expiring player contracts usually end when the season ends, with a termination date that coincides with the end of the season. With the current suspension of play in most countries, it is now obvious that the current season will not end when people thought it would. Therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end. This should be in line with the original intention of the parties when the contract was signed and should also preserve sporting integrity and stability.

A similar principle applies to contracts due to begin when the new season starts, meaning the entry into force of such contracts is delayed until the next season actually does start.

Football employment agreements that can no longer be performed:
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly had a major impact on the revenues of clubs, not least since matches cannot be played. Football, like other sectors of the economy, has to find fair and equitable solutions tailored to these circumstances, hopefully with a view to protecting jobs and achieving a fair and reasonable balance of interests between players and clubs.

Accordingly, FIFA strongly encourages clubs and players to work together to find agreements and solutions during the period when football is suspended.

While it is primarily up to the relevant parties at national level to find solutions to fit the circumstances in their own country, FIFA recommends looking at all aspects of each situation in an even handed manner, including what government measures are there to support clubs and players, whether pay should be deferred or reduced and what insurance coverage may exist.

If parties cannot agree and, as a consequence, cases come to FIFA, the factors to be examined will include the following:

whether there was a genuine attempt by the club to reach agreement with the players;
what the economic situation of the club is;
the proportionality of any adjustment to player contracts;
the net income position of players after any contract adjustment; and
whether players have been treated equally or not.

In this way, FIFA hopes that it will be able to find solutions that are fair and balanced for both sides.

Transfer windows:
With regard to transfer windows, again, it is necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances. Accordingly, FIFA will be flexible and will allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season.

At the same time, FIFA will try to ensure, where possible, an overall level of coordination and will also bear in mind the need to protect the regularity, integrity and proper functioning of competitions, so that the sporting results of any competition are not unfairly disrupted.

Further background and details concerning the guidelines approved by the Bureau of the Council can be found in the COVID-19: Football Regulatory Issues document.

So what do Arsenal fans think of that? Is it possible to finish the season before the start of the next one in August?