Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players - June 2024 edition

About the June 2024 editionChanges from February 2024

This edition was approved by the FIFA Council on 15 May 2024 and entered into force on 1 June 2024. The most extensive amendment concerns the rights of female players and coaches since the February 2021 edition.

Key changes from the previous edition

1. Definition of adoption leaveDefined for the first time: a minimum of eight weeks of paid leave for a female player or coach on the adoption of a child under two years of age; this period is reduced to four weeks for a child aged two to four and to two weeks for a child over four. The leave must be taken within six months of the official date of adoption and does not accumulate with family leave for the same child.
2. Definition of family leaveA minimum of eight weeks of paid leave for a female player or coach who is not the biological mother of the child, following the child's birth; available within six months of the date of birth and not cumulative with adoption leave for the same child.
3. Change to the title of article 18quaterThe title of this article was changed from "Specific provisions relating to female players" to "Specific provisions relating to pregnancy, adoption and family leave", and it was made explicit that players are entitled to maternity leave, adoption leave and family leave.
4. Addition of article 18quinquies — menstrual healthA new article provided that clubs are obliged at all times to accommodate the needs of female players in this respect.
5. Precedence of collective bargaining agreements and more favourable national lawIt was made explicit that, in respect of articles 18 paragraph 7, 18quater and 18quinquies, where a valid collective bargaining agreement contains provisions relating to women's professional football, the terms of the agreement prevail; and, in the absence of such an agreement, the more favourable conditions provided by national law must be incorporated into the association's regulations.
6. Protection against termination on grounds of pregnancyIt was provided that unilateral termination of a contract by a club on the grounds of a player's refusal to undergo a pregnancy test, pregnancy, or the taking of maternity, adoption or family leave falls within the protective effects of these articles.