Zurich – FIFA, the world football association, has announced further flexibility for the transfer market in the corona virus pandemic.
So far, there have been two phases in which players are allowed to switch: one between seasons that cannot last longer than twelve weeks, and one in the middle of the season that cannot exceed four weeks. “What we could now see in the crisis would be that associations open an additional, third transfer window,” said James Kitching, FIFA Director Football Regulatory, in the ARD “Sports Show” on the new recommendations. “We would handle this flexibly if the total time of 16 weeks was not exceeded.”
FIFA recently issued various recommendations and guidelines regarding transfers and contracts in the coronavirus crisis. Two so-called registration periods for transfers were previously planned in German men’s football: from July 1 to August 31, 2020 and from January 2 to February 1, 2021. If the currently interrupted season is longer than planned, the transfer periods could be postponed.
The world association had also advocated that contracts by professionals be adapted to the actual course of the currently interrupted season. Accordingly, expiring contracts should be able to be extended until the season is over. Player changes planned in summer should also only be carried out afterwards. However, FIFA cannot make any binding requirements in these questions. “We have to recognize that national labor law and the autonomy of clubs and players always have priority,” said Kitching.
