Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players - July 2022
The July 2022 edition of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, approved on 30 March 2022 and in force from 1 July 2022; the comprehensive regime governing the loan of professional players (article 10) was rewritten in this edition.
| Approval | 30 March 2022 — FIFA Council; Annexe 7 by the Bureau of the Council (in force from 20 June 2022) |
| In force from | 1 July 2022 |
| Structure | 29 articles + annexes |
| Status | Superseded — replaced by the October 2022 edition |
What is the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players?
The FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) determine the binding global framework for the registration of players, their amateur or professional status, transfers between clubs affiliated to different associations, contractual stability, the protection of minors, and the training compensation and solidarity mechanisms. Certain provisions of these regulations must be incorporated without modification into the internal regulations of every national association.
About the July 2022 editionChanges from June 2022
Pursuant to article 29, this edition was approved by the FIFA Council on 30 March 2022 and came into force on 1 July 2022, with the exception of Annexe 7, which was approved by the Bureau of the Council and had come into force on 20 June 2022. The most significant amendment in this edition is the complete rewriting of the player loan regime.
Key changes from the previous edition
- Rewriting of article 10 — the regime governing the loan of professional playersIt was provided that the loan of a professional player must be for a pre-determined period and based on a written agreement between the two clubs setting out the duration and the financial terms; the player and the new club must sign a contract for the duration of the loan expressly stating that it is a loan; the contractual obligations between the player and the club of origin are suspended for the duration of the loan unless otherwise agreed in writing; and the end date of the loan must fall within one of the registration periods of the association of the club of origin.
- Possibility of a different loan cap at national levelIt was made explicit that the limit on the number of loans at national level may differ from article 10, provided it is compatible with the principles of the integrity of competitions and the development of young players.
- Registration of a female player following the end of maternity leaveIt was added that a female player may, upon the conclusion of maternity leave and having regard to her contractual situation, be registered outside a registration period.
- End of the COVID-19 three-club exceptionThe text permitting registration with three clubs in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons was deleted and the rule that a player is eligible to play for two clubs was restored without any temporary qualification.
Who this document matters to
For clubs engaged in international transfers, for players and coaches under contract with a foreign club, and for agents and sports lawyers, this document is the principal basis for the legal assessment of a case. In any dispute, the applicable edition of the regulations is the one that was in force at the time the relevant event occurred; for that reason, access to the text of earlier editions is of practical importance in cases concerning the past.