James
30/01/2002, 1:13 PM
from JW'S news section
The decision of world football governing body FIFA yesterday to approve of new compensation measures is likely to prove of immense importance to Irish clubs in the future.
The new rule, called a 'solidatarity mechanism', means that Irish clubs will be entitled to compensation if any of their former players are involved in cash transfers within the EU.
The rule allows for five per cent of any transfer fee to go to a player's former clubs for their role in "training and educating" the footballer between the ages of 12 and 23.
Some world class players have come through National League ranks, such as Manchester United's Roy Keane - considered by many to be the best midfielder in the world - whose last club in Ireland was Cobh Ramblers.
Other stars like former Republic of Ireland defender Paul McGrath and Middlesbrough full-back Curtis Fleming both played in the League of Ireland for Saint Patrick's Athletic.
If Roy Keane left Manchester for Bayern Munich today for €20m, Cobh would be entitled to €1m - as would Rockmount. One can only imagine how valuable this would be to Ramblers.
Indeed, former Kilkenny City striker Michael Reddy was linked with a €5m move away from Sunderland last year; if such a transfer happened, City would earn €250,000.
The decision of world football governing body FIFA yesterday to approve of new compensation measures is likely to prove of immense importance to Irish clubs in the future.
The new rule, called a 'solidatarity mechanism', means that Irish clubs will be entitled to compensation if any of their former players are involved in cash transfers within the EU.
The rule allows for five per cent of any transfer fee to go to a player's former clubs for their role in "training and educating" the footballer between the ages of 12 and 23.
Some world class players have come through National League ranks, such as Manchester United's Roy Keane - considered by many to be the best midfielder in the world - whose last club in Ireland was Cobh Ramblers.
Other stars like former Republic of Ireland defender Paul McGrath and Middlesbrough full-back Curtis Fleming both played in the League of Ireland for Saint Patrick's Athletic.
If Roy Keane left Manchester for Bayern Munich today for €20m, Cobh would be entitled to €1m - as would Rockmount. One can only imagine how valuable this would be to Ramblers.
Indeed, former Kilkenny City striker Michael Reddy was linked with a €5m move away from Sunderland last year; if such a transfer happened, City would earn €250,000.