Football’s world governing body FIFA has confirmed that all of football’s major stakeholders have agreed to proposals that would see the summer transfer window moved and player contracts extended until the 2019/20 season is completed. This would be mandatory (a player contract would end for one club after an extended season is completed, and any new contract would begin at the start of the following season – regardless of the dates!).
FIFA’s Bureau of Council approved the proposals after agreement was reached with all major stakeholders, who agreed that finishing the current campaign by the end of June was unrealistic so made room for the moving of the transfer window and the auto-extension of player contracts.
Here is the FIFA statement:
“It is now obvious that the current season will not end when people thought it would, therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end. A similar principle applies to contracts due to begin when the new season starts, meaning the entry into force of such contracts is delayed until the next season actually does start.”
“It is also necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances. Accordingly, Fifa will be flexible and allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season.”
So this further paves the way for the season to be completed and takes away any restrictions in terms of time, via flexibility on player contracts and the transfer window. It seems that the Premier League, UEFA and now FIFA are moving quickly to take decisions on the completion of the season out of clubs’ hands to ensure the integrity of the game going forward.
