The FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee is backing a reform package of the transfer system. Representatives from clubs (European Club Association), leagues (the World Leagues Forum), players (FIFPro) as well as member associations, confederations and the FIFA administration validated a set of recommendations to increase the transparency of the system, protect its integrity and reinforce solidarity mechanisms for training clubs. The proposals will be submitted to the FIFA Council for approval. The key points of the principles endorsed are:
- Creation of a "clearing house" to process transfers with the aim of protecting the integrity of football and avoiding fraudulent conduct.
- Mandatory introduction of an electronic transfer system at the national level following the model in place for int'l transfers as well as of a domestic electronic registration system.
- New and stronger regulations for agents to be established with agreement on the principle of introducing compensation and representation restrictions, payment of agents' commissions through the clearing house and licensing and registration of agents through the Transfer Matching System.
- Development of the regulation of loans of players for the purpose of youth development as opposed to commercial exploitation.
- Solidarity contributions to apply to domestic transfers with an "international dimension" (FIFA).
EXCESSIVE COSTS: In London, Samuel Lovett reported FIFA spent almost £9M on private jets in less than three years, "which included a sightseeing trip to the Taj Mahal," newly-published legal documents showed. Former FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke was urged in a '13 internal memo to find "more cost efficient alternatives whenever possible" as the governing body revealed $11.7M was spent on private jets between Jan. '11 and Sept. '13. Valcke also broke FIFA rules four times by "flying unnecessarily by private jet with more than one guest, and without repaying the extra cost" (INDEPENDENT, 9/25).
