Peadar
13/09/2002, 5:43 PM
FIFA have confirmed that out-of-contract players will be allowed to sign for new clubs outside of the transfer window. Football's world governing body have been criticised for implementing the window which closed on August 31 and would not allow players to sign for clubs until January.
There were fears the system could see some smaller clubs across the world struggling if injury lists became too long ahead of the window re-opening. However, former Rangers defender Tony Vidmar became the first unemployed player to be allowed to move outside of the window when he joined Middlesbrough on Monday.
Now FIFA have written to all national associations to explain that players who were not employed by any club when the window closed at the end of last month can move before it reopens in January.
FIFA told all member associations in a letter: “The strict application of the transfer registration periods would cause serious inconvenience to players still looking for a club to sign them on, since on the one hand they would have no income and on the other they would not be allowed to register for a new club when the official transfer window has closed.”
There were fears the system could see some smaller clubs across the world struggling if injury lists became too long ahead of the window re-opening. However, former Rangers defender Tony Vidmar became the first unemployed player to be allowed to move outside of the window when he joined Middlesbrough on Monday.
Now FIFA have written to all national associations to explain that players who were not employed by any club when the window closed at the end of last month can move before it reopens in January.
FIFA told all member associations in a letter: “The strict application of the transfer registration periods would cause serious inconvenience to players still looking for a club to sign them on, since on the one hand they would have no income and on the other they would not be allowed to register for a new club when the official transfer window has closed.”