TMS: scope

Introduction

The Transfer Matching System (TMS) is a web-based information system designed primarily to simplify international player transfers and improve transparency and information flows.

TMS facilitates and manages international clearances for players moving between clubs in different countries; it is not itself a player registration system. The relevant Member Associations register the player after the TMS process is complete.

The objectives of TMS are:

• to monitor and regulate the procedure for the international transfers of players;
• to provide football authorities with information concerning the football transfer system;
• to increase the transparency, efficiency and credibility of the international football transfer system;
• to clearly distinguish between the different payments related to international player transfers; and
• to guarantee the protection of minors.

In turn, these objectives improve the credibility and standing of the entire transfer system.

International transfers

The use of TMS is a mandatory step for all international transfers of male and female professional and amateur players within the scope of 11-a-side football. For the purposes of TMS, an international transfer is the movement of a player’s registration from one Member Association to another.

In the context of international transfers, TMS is also referred to as the International Transfer Matching System (“ITMS”).

Domestic transfers

The Domestic Transfer Matching System (“DTMS”) is the national version of ITMS.

DTMS is an optional product built into the TMS platform and uses a single sign-on.

With DTMS, a Member Association and its clubs can manage and monitor domestic transfer activity, generate statistics and reports, accelerate the transfer process and store required documents securely online. The Member Association can access international and domestic transfers in one place.

Minors

TMS also regulates the first registration of non-national minor players and the international transfers of minors. A minor is defined as a player who has not yet reached the age of 18.

The objective of the system in place is to help safeguard the protection of minors and to ensure that the relevant provisions are applied correctly. The rules relating to the protection of minors are applicable to:

• every international transfer of a minor player;
• every first registration of a minor player who is not a national of the country in which the player wishes to be registered for the first time;
• both male and female players;
• both professional and amateur players; and
• both 11-a-side football and futsal.

Stakeholders

TMS provides access to information on Member Associations, clubs, and players available within the platform. While all Member Associations are listed in TMS, only clubs and players that have been created or imported into the system can be found. Key details, including contact information, FIFA IDs, and bank details for each organisation, are displayed and can be viewed by all TMS users.

Training rewards and the Electronic Player Passport

When a trigger for training rewards entitlement is identified in a transfer, Domestic Transfer Declaration (DTD), or First Professional Registration (FPR), a provisional Electronic Player Passport (EPP) is automatically created in TMS. The entire EPP process, from the initial trigger through to the generation of allocation statements, is managed within the platform. Member Associations and clubs that contributed to the player’s training will be invited to take part in the relevant EPP process.

Claims

The Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal establish a procedure under which certain claims related to training compensation (according to art. 20 of the RSTP) and the solidarity mechanism (according to art. 21 of the RSTP) may be submitted and managed through TMS.

The “Claims” module in TMS, and the “traditional” claims system remain applicable in two situations:

1. Instalments falling due after 16 November 2022 but relating to transfers concluded before the FCHR entered into force
2. Exceptional cases under article 18.2 of the FCHR, for example, a club that did not take part in the relevant EPP review process and considers, as a result of a bridge transfer or an exchange of players, that it was incorrectly not entitled to training rewards.