FIFA strike deal to push Premier League clubs into release clause move | Football | Sport

The change is amongst several reforms FIFA are seeking to implement following a landmark accord with the global players’ union, which will see players given representation in major decisions affecting the sport. FIFPRO will hold a veto over key areas of football’s governance, with FIFA confirming the agreement was struck on the condition that all legal proceedings against it by FIFPRO are dropped.

In October 2024, the union lodged a complaint against FIFA over the congested match calendar. Earlier this week, former France star Lassana Diarra reached a settlement in his dispute against FIFA and the Belgian FA after he was blocked from completing a transfer to Charleroi in 2014, following the cancellation of his contract by Lokomotiv Moscow.

Following the agreement struck between FIFA and FIFPRO, players are set to benefit from considerably stronger protections. Enhanced safeguards will shield them from exploitative practices, including being forced to train in isolation or having their passports confiscated.

Players will now be entitled to terminate their contracts while still receiving outstanding payments, claim compensation for expenses, and even pursue six months’ additional pay in damages.

FIFPRO president Sergio Marchi said: “This agreement represents an important step forward for football. Ensuring that players and their representatives have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their careers is not only beneficial for footballers, but for the game as a whole.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed his delight that both parties had reached an agreement, confirming that a memorandum had been signed. Speaking at the Azteca Stadium he said: “It’s about unity, about bringing everyone together.

“We’ve always been having dialogues. Now, sometimes you don’t agree, when you don’t agree, well, you can go and say it to everyone, or you can sit down and discuss and see what makes sense. So, we signed a memorandum of understanding with FIFPRO, everything is agreed.”

The agreement between the two organisations runs until December 2031 and formally acknowledges FIFPRO as the worldwide union for professional footballers. For the first time, the union will hold a seat on the FIFA Council, with player representatives also sitting on FIFA’s legal committees.

A further significant change due to come into effect next year will see players receive a portion of their transfer fee. Already established in Spain, footballers earning below €150,000 (£130,000) per year will be entitled to 5 per cent of their fixed transfer fee.

While this right can be waived, a minimum threshold must still be satisfied. The percentage cannot fall below either the player’s fixed salary for the final year of their contract or 2.5 per cent of the total fixed transfer fee, whichever figure is the higher of the two.