Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players - February 2024 edition
The February 2024 edition of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, approved on 17 December 2023 and in force from 1 February 2024; this edition established the requirement that a jurisdiction clause be exclusive and a detailed regime of consequences for failure to pay.
| Approved | 17 December 2023 — FIFA Council |
| In force from | 1 February 2024 |
| Structure | 29 articles + annexes |
| Status | Superseded — replaced by the June 2024 edition |
What are the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players?
The FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) determine the global and binding 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 reward and solidarity mechanisms. Certain provisions of these regulations must be incorporated without modification into the internal rules of each national association.
About the February 2024 editionChanges from May 2023
This edition was approved by the FIFA Council on 17 December 2023 and entered into force on 1 February 2024. Its changes concern jurisdiction and financial consequences.
Key changes from the previous edition
- Requirement that the jurisdiction clause be exclusiveIn the article on jurisdiction, the former term "arbitration clause" was changed to "jurisdiction clause", and it was added that such a clause must be exclusive and inserted directly in the contract or in the collective bargaining agreement applicable to the parties.
- Express recognition of the right to bring proceedings before a courtThe new text begins with the words "without prejudice to the right of any player, coach, association or club to seek redress before a civil court for employment-related disputes" and then sets out FIFA's jurisdiction.
- Detailed regime of consequences for failure to payIt was provided that, where the amounts awarded are not paid, a club shall be subject to a ban from registering new players for up to three entire and consecutive registration periods, and a player shall be subject to a restriction on playing in official matches until payment is made.
- Exceptions and mechanism for lifting the banIt was specified that these consequences do not apply in two situations: where a sporting sanction has been imposed on the basis of article 12bis, 17 or 18quater in the same case, or where the Football Tribunal is aware of the insolvency of the debtor club under national law. To have the ban lifted, the debtor must provide proof of payment of the full amount together with the interest due, and the consequences are lifted immediately upon notification by FIFA.
- Adjustment of the transitional ruleIt was added that "any other case shall be assessed according to the previous regulations".
Who this document matters to
For clubs engaged in international transfers, players and coaches under contract with a foreign club, 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 when the relevant event occurred; for that reason, access to the text of earlier editions has practical importance for past cases.