News tonight from sportall.co.uk. With players aged 23 and over, the clubs will not receive any payment for them. The new system, expected to come into force in early August, effectively means an increase in player salaries and a fall in transfer fees.

Under the new system, all contracts will be for a minimum of one year and a maximum of five. All players aged between 23 and 28 will only have to honour contracts for a minimum of one year followed by a protected period of two years.

Players over 28 will also have to honour the one-year minimum followed by a protected period of one year.

Players will be able to break their three and two-year periods providing they can argue that there is "just sporting cause". The definition of "just sporting cause" is where a player makes less than 10 per cent of first-team appearances or a player has not been paid.> Will this actually change anything? Will clubs not just offer big signing on fees instead, making the players richer(and agents) along with satisfying their huge wage demands. Maximum contracts of 2-3 years depending on age. Where are we going with this one then?

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

Answers

Well if it cuts both ways and you can hoy out some big jessie who makes less than 10% of first team games then I'm all for it :-)

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2001

Good point Softie, although if it was already in force, we'd have lost a ton of threads from here cos Marcy would be long gone.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Is this only for International transfers? And does international mean only from outside of the EU? Are domestic transfers unaffected? Does domestic mean EU or UK for us? How does this affect our current transfer activities?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Spoken like a civil servant, Barry. Ask Mr Prodi for the answer - when he's placated the Irish.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

how does this affect us now?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Is this really decided, I havent seen anything about it exept here. Dont doubt you Keith but it would be nice to read the full statement from FIFA,.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Yes you're right Toon Expat, you get used to reading between the lines here when anyone talks about international, Europe, etc. It always takes a while for the real meaning to become clear. ANyway, if it is only for international transfers, there is going to be a big distortion of the market with domestic transfers still requiring fees, but "international" transfers not. Which will be crazy, along with the distortions just before and after players reach the ages of 23 and 28.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I believe it is intended to operate worldwide barry, including 'domestic' transfers - hence the involvement of both UEFA and FIFA - otherwise it would be a fairly pointless exercise.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001