FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players 2021

About the February 2021 editionChanges from October 2020

This edition was approved by the FIFA Council on 31 January 2021 and entered into force on 5 February 2021. From the perspective of the rights of female players, it is the turning point of this family of editions.

Key changes from the previous edition

1. Addition of article 18quater — specific provisions for female playersThis article, which did not exist in any earlier edition, was inserted for the first time and introduced the concept of maternity leave into the definitions of the Regulations.
2. Registration of a temporary replacement for a female player on maternity leaveAs an exception to the rule on registration periods, it was provided that an association may register a female player outside a registration period as the temporary replacement of a female player who has taken maternity leave. The duration of the replacement's contract runs from the date of registration until the day before the start of the first registration period following the return of the original player, unless otherwise agreed.
3. Priority given to the eligibility of a player returning from maternity leaveIt was made explicit that priority lies with ensuring the eligibility of a female player returning from maternity leave to participate in domestic competitions and with preserving the sporting integrity of the competition.
4. Introduction of provisions on coaches' contractsIt was made explicit that these Regulations also include rules relating to the contract between coaches and professional clubs or associations.
5. Expansion of the list of provisions binding at national levelArticle 12bis and article 18 paragraph 7 were added to the list of provisions that must be incorporated without modification into the regulations of national associations (the latter, unless more favourable conditions exist under national law).