Soccer chiefs close to deal on transfers

Date: 14/12/00

By Peter Chapman

Soccer chiefs and the European Commission this week agreed to once-a-season 'transfer windows' and maximum five-year contracts as they neared a deal to reform the rules governing players' moves to clubs in other EU member states.

They also saw eye-to-eye on the need to ensure that smaller teams receive a percentage of fees paid by big clubs each time a player they 'discovered' and trained up moves on.

But the Commission rejected proposals to ban transfers of players aged 18 or under, claiming this would restrict the free movement of workers. A spokeswoman said the executive preferred limits for players under 16, adding that this and other outstanding issues would be discussed at a further meeting next week.

The talks with FIFA, UEFA and players' body Fifpro came days after EU leaders called at the Nice summit for a compromise deal on reforming the transfer fee system in a declaration acknowledging the special status of sport in society.