Thought this extremely boring but critical issue deserved it's own thread so we can keep up to date on the progress.

Latest development:

Saturday January 13, 01:10 PM
UEFA CALL FOR FIFA U-TURN

UEFA have demanded that FIFA withdraw new proposals for a new transfer system which would allow players to walk out of clubs in the middle of their contracts.

Officials involved in the negotiations aimed at finding a compromise solution agreeable to the EC, now admit there is serious concern the row may undermine the talks.

The argument centres on a new document produced by world governing body FIFA which will allow players to walk out for any "just sporting cause". Taken to extremes, it could mean the likes of David Beckham quitting Manchester United because he disagreed with Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics.

Mike Lee, UEFA's communications director, said: "We have formally written to Fifa demanding they withdraw the document. The new proposals have been submitted without consultation and could undermine the whole negotiating process."

Frank Clark, vice-chairman of the League Managers' Association, believes FIFA's new proposals are unworkable. He told the Daily Telegraph: "I find this proposal absolutely incredible. It would make the manager's position impossible. As it is, if you have an unhappy player you are always keen for him to move on because of the effect on the dressing room so I don't know why this is necessary."

One official involved in the talks added: "The new proposals that have been made are a matter for serious concern. It's potentially open to manipulation and abuse and is potentially very, very disruptive."

UEFA would like to take the lead in the talks, but as the EC are challenging FIFA's rules and regulations must be content with being partners in the talks. And while both FIFA and UEFA reject talks of a serious split, a meeting yesterday with the EC was called off and there is no doubt there is real anger within the European association. FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper said: "Clearly there has been a difference of opinion. Both parties seems to have approached it from different angles. Maybe FIFA has a more global view than UEFA, which is strictly European."

What a bloody mess - why are FIFA f@rting around in what is strictly a European matter anyway, without consulting with UEFA?

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2001

Answers

FIFA UPBEAT OVER TRANSFER TALKS

FIFA boss, Sepp Blatter, is confident that a mutually agreeable transfer arrangement can be reached with the EU despite UEFA's concerns. Blatter expects that a solution will have been found by the end of this month.

The European Commission believes that the existing transfer rules break the law on competition and the right of workers to move between jobs. President Blatter is adamant that FIFA should lead the negotiations with the Commission but refutes the notion that he is attempting to implement a new system without consulting UEFA.

"We've presented a paper to the Commission and said we want to negotiate. That is not the same as an imposition," said Blatter before continuing, " We all accept that we have to find agreement with the European Commission to avoid the failures of the Bosman situation, when football wouldn't negotiate and it became a battle between politicians."

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

Monday January 15, 05:48 PM

UEFA THREATEN TO GO IT ALONE IN TRANSFER ROW

UEFA have threatened to cut ties with FIFA in their aim to thrash out a settlement over the future of football's transfer system.

European football's governing body, unhappy with FIFA's proposals to the European Commission last week concerning players' contracts, stood firm after their morning deadline for the world body to withdraw their blueprint passed.

After their Executive Committee met with the representatives of the 13 top European Leagues in Lyon, UEFA said they "totally rejected" the document on transfers which they said had been submitted without any consultation by FIFA".

FIFA suggested in their document that players be allowed to break their Contracts with as little as three months notice if they are unhappy with the tactics employed by the team coach.

UEFA favoured a five-year Contract of which the first three years effectively tied a player to their Club - although that plan was rejected as "unfair" by the European Players' Union, FIFPro.

UEFA's statement maintained that FIFA's paper was "damaging to European football" and added: "The meeting agreed that no further meetings should be held with FIFA unless certain principles were now agreed. UEFA and the Leagues expressed their regret at recent developments in the light of the progress that was being made in the discussions to secure a positive solution to the transfer issue.
"The meeting affirmed its support for the original proposals of the joint FIFA-UEFA Transfer Task Force as the basis for negotiation and stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on the key issues of contract stability and an effective system of compensation."

UEFA could now seek direct discussions with the EC to bring about a satisfactory conclusion. Their executive committee will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to consider any further steps to be taken.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

Can you put that into layma Thick Geordie terms in less than 50 words Clarky?

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

(1)The (2)game (3)is (4)going (5)to (6)hell (7)in (8)a (9)hand-basket!

Nine words - that do Rik?

In all seriousness, there is more in-fighting going between FIFA (the World organising body) and UEFA (the European organising body) than real negotiation with the European Commission.
This is an absolute bloody disgrace when the game is standing still awaiting the outcome of these critical negotiations with the EU.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

>>>>>UEFA have threatened to cut ties with FIFA

Who will that inconvenience? :-)))

(The line is from Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy where Deep Thought gives his opinion on the threatened Philosophers' strike).

I reckon it just needs the Ministry of Silly Walks to chuck their oar into this to complete this bliddy pantomime.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

Footballs transfer row rumbles on:

The bitter row between football's two superpowers shows no sign of ending despite an apparent peace offering by world governing body FIFA.

Europe's governing body, UEFA, are still fuming over FIFA's proposals which would allow players to walk out on clubs in the middle of their contracts.

UEFA have demanded that the proposals be withdrawn, and although FIFA on Monday faxed an offer to withdraw the document if "the majority of the football family" wishes, this has not placated UEFA officials.

UEFA director of communications Mike Lee said: "The proposals have not been withdrawn by FIFA. We have received a letter, but the letter itself is unclear. We are not clear what exactly FIFA mean 'majority of the football family'. It continues to be a matter of concern for us."

The fall-out will be discussed at emergency UEFA Executive Committee meetings this week, but while FIFA and UEFA remain at odds, there is little hope of making any progress in their talks with the EC on changes to the transfer system.

However, what is certain is that the current system cannot remain, because it is contrary to current European law.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

They must unite to fight the common enemy -
THE JUDEAN PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT!!
Sheesh! How's that bloke with the septic bladder getting on anyway?

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Football's world and European governing bodies could be heading for an end-of-week showdown over proposals to change the transfer system.

Bosses at European body UEFA have called on world governing organisation FIFA to meet up and settle their differences over the European Commission's unease with the current system.

UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner, speaking after an emergency executive board session of his organisation in Nyon, Switzerland, said an urgent meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter and general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen had been tentatively set for Friday.

UEFA bosses were unhappy that FIFA had put forward their own proposals to the EC, including plans to allow players to walk out on contracts after giving three months' notice, after turning their backs on joint Transfer Task Force talks involving UEFA.

In a statement the UEFA executive said: "This document (Proposals to Amend FIFA's International Transfer Regulations) remains with the EC and as a result continues to undermine the negotiation process and the status of the original proposals.

"The new FIFA document creates a distinction between the European Union/European Economic Area and the rest of the world which is potentially damaging to European football.

"The FIFA document includes proposals which weaken two of the key principles for European football, namely contract stability and the development of an effective system of compensation."

The UEFA executive also pointed out that FIFA's proposals had been rejected by a meeting of 13 top European leagues.

"It is essential for the unity of the game that all future negotiations with the EC are based on the original joint FIFA-UEFA Transfer Task Force proposals," they said.

David Dein, vice-chairman of Arsenal and the Football Association, said: "If this were to be allowed to happen it would kill the game as we know it.

"It is totally impractical and unworkable. The sport would become unmanageable and I simply don't understand the rationale."



-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Call me a cynic - but I simply cannot comprehend why FIFA have taken it upon themselves to negotiate directly with the European Commission on what is a strictly European matter. This is surely a matter strictly for UEFA to take care of?

FIFA's meddling is protracting the matter, and delaying an effective resolution of this important issue.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

There was an excellent article on the subject in today's Mail (so it's probably on Soccernet as well). It seems there is no love lost between Septic Bladder of FIFA & Lennart Johansson of UEFA. It seems these guys are working to a different agenda to the one of "effective resolution" that Clarky mentions. It seems that each treasures the objective of nobbling the other.

Apparently, above the door to the UEFA HQ is a sign that says :-
WE CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL

One feels it might be more appropriate if the four letters "ootb" were removed and it said:-

WE CARE ABOUT F. ALL

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Right on Jonno!

Just how pathetic is it that these buffoons cannot put petty personal politics aside, and get such a critical issue bloody sorted. Makes my blood boil.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

FIFA BACK DOWN IN TRANSFER ROW

FIFA have backed down in the bitter dispute with European governing body, UEFA, and withdrew controversial proposals for changes to the transfer system.

The world governing body, FIFA, had sent a document to the European Commission suggesting players could walk out on contracts at just three months notice, say for reasons such as disagreeing with the Manager's tactics.

But unity between the parties has been restored again and today FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the proposals were no longer valid.

Blatter met UEFA President, Lennart Johansson, today and said: "We will have to make sure we work hand-in-hand in the future."

Johansson said he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. "We are cooperating anew," he said.

UEFA, FIFA and players' organisation FIFPRO will now meet EC officials on Wednesday for further talks on changes to the transfer system.

FIFA Secretary General, Michel Zen-Ruffinen, insisted that not all progress has been lost. "We are not far from a solution," he said, insisting differences could be reduced to two issues - the guaranteed minimum length of a contract, and the conditions under which a player can unilaterally break a contract.

PRATS!!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2001

EC LOSING PATIENCE OVER TRANSFERS (Annanova 25/1/01)

The European Commission are losing patience with FIFA and UEFA in their talks over changes to the transfer system.

That is the view of Gordon Taylor, who has been one of the main parties involved in the talks. The chief executive of both the Professional Footballers' Association and the international players' union FIFPRO believes governing bodies FIFA and UEFA are digging their heels in over the issue of players' contracts, and that is leading to frustration among the EC negotiators.

Taylor said: "There seems to be big differences at the moment between the EC on one hand and UEFA and FIFA on the other. The EC are running out of patience and are certainly getting very frustrated. It's all over the place at the moment, and it's extremely difficult because nobody knows what the EC will accept. What is certain at the moment is that the EC are not in agreement with what's being offered to them."

Matters have not been helped by UEFA's very public fall-out with world body FIFA. Though both parties have settled their differences, the EC will be aware that there is not complete unity.

The big stumbling block as far as the EC are concerned remains contracts - the very point over which UEFA and FIFA fell out earlier this month.

The governing bodies, in particular UEFA, want players to be forced to respect their contracts for a set period. If, for example, a player signs a five-year contract, UEFA and FIFA argue he should not be allowed to walk out on it for the first three years.

That is not acceptable to the EC, who fear that any player who wanted to leave would simply take the matter to court and invoke European Employment Law. However, there may be scope to agree a compromise over the period of notice which a player - and a club - must give to end a contract.

The EC are keen that any deal is agreed by FIFPRO, in the hope that if they have ratified it, players will then abide by their rules. However, Taylor refuses to say what FIFPRO would deem acceptable. He said: "It's very difficult for us. There's no point in saying what's acceptable until we know what the Commission will accept."

A UEFA spokesman admitted the prospect of a quick settlement was unlikely.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

>>>>>>EC are keen that any deal is agreed by FIFPRO, in the hope that if they have ratified it, players will then abide by their rules.

Players abiding by rules? How amusing ...

Thanks for the update Clarky.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I continue to find the absence of meaningful progress on this critical matter disturbing.
What are these idiots at FIFA/UEFA doing? Do they even understand how important this issue is? Sheeessh!!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Come on Clarky, it's only football isn't it? There must be a thousand more pressing matters for the EU to sort. This will keep on the back burner until an acceptable 'Fudge' can be agreed. Probably years rather than months I'm afraid.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Thursday February 1, 06:14 PM (BBC Sports on-line)

EU PLEAS FOR TRANSFER SUMMIT

The European Commission is seeking an urgent meeting with FIFA and UEFA to breath new life into negotiations over transfer reforms.

The EC is concerned at the failure of football's governing bodies to reach a breakthrough on the subject, and a letter has now been sent to FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, and his UEFA counterpart, Lennart Johansson, calling for a meeting as soon as possible.

An EC spokesman said: ""We can find a solution. The Commission does not want to impose a new system, but wants to encourage both sides to agree on a solution."

The EC insists the current transfer system has to be revamped as it contravenes European law concerning the free movement of workers, but FIFA, football's world governing body, and UEFA have been unable to reach agreement over how to best reform the system.

The EC hopes that the Summit with UEFA and FIFA can be held by February 16 at the latest.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2001

Hmmm - February 16th. I don't think I'll hold my breath. After all, it doesn't say which year.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2001

THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY

As the long-running saga of agreeing a new transfer system comes to a conclusion, Sportal brings you up to date with where the different parties stand.

EUROPEAN UNION
The EU have imposed a Feb 16 deadline on football's ruling bodies to present their final proposals, when a summit with EC commissioner Mario Monti is scheduled. They remain determined that any player over 16 should have the right to change employers like any other but have, in principle, accepted certain measures that will retain some form of transfer system.
EU spokesman Christophe Forax said: "We have had four meetings with FIFA and UEFA and have agreed on several points."

UEFA & FIFA
UEFA and FIFA are largely in agreement on a way forward, which is to protect the sporting integrity of competitions. UEFA's Executive Board are likely to make their final recommendations on Friday but their task now is to persuade the leagues, the clubs and the players - with the players likely to present the biggest obstacle.
According to the 10-point plan drawn up by the Transfer Taskforce:

- Players will be restricted to one move per season.
- There will be two transfer windows, one in January, the other in the summer.
- Compensation will be played to clubs who lose a player under 23 whom they have developed.
- Compensation will be played to clubs who lose a player who is in the first three years of a five-year contract.
- There will be an independent compensation panel set up to rule on compensation payments - a figure determined by an assessment of wages, international experience and possibly the commercial value of a player.
- If a club refuse to pay the compensation, they could be banned from conducting any more transfers for the rest of the season and the player prohibited from turning out for them.

THE NATIONAL LEAGUES
Representatives of the top European leagues met UEFA on Monday and gave their backing to the 10-point plan. UEFA director of communications Mike Lee said after the meeting: "What this presents is a united front. We don't want to see deals done with the players or with the Commission that undermine those principles."

THE CLUBS
Representatives of 71 clubs are meeting at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Tuesday and Wednesday. The meeting was arranged originally to discuss the revamped Champions League and UEFA Cup but the focus will now doubtless shift to the transfer issue.

THE PLAYERS
Gordon Taylor, president of the players' union FIFPro, had a meeting on Tuesday with the UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner, FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen, club representatives Karl-Heinz Rummenigge of Bayern Munich, Barcelona president Juan Gaspart, and three representatives of the European leagues, including Manchester United lawyer Maurice Watkins.
FIFPro has little standing in Spain, Germany or Portugal and it is believed that if they disagree with some proposals, the other parties may go ahead with the proposals without them. Lee said: "We want a deal with the players but not at any price."

-- Anonymous, February 06, 2001