Table of contents
In 2014, the then FIFA Executive Committee passed a decision of general principle on the regulatory approach to banning third-party ownership of players’ economic rights (“TPO”). For more information, see FIFA circular no. 1464. A third party is a party other than the player being transferred, the two clubs transferring the player from one to the other, or any previous club, with which the player has been registered (cf. definition no. 14 in the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, hereinafter “the Regulations”). Examples of third parties include a company, an individual, an intermediary or a club with which the player has never been registered and to which the player is not being transferred.
Third-party ownership is prohibited under article 18ter paragraph 1 of the Regulations, which states that “No club or player shall enter into an agreement with a third party whereby a third party is being entitled to participate, either in full or in part, in compensation payable in relation to the future transfer of a player from one club to another, or is being assigned any rights in relation to a future transfer or transfer compensation.”
When entering a transfer instruction on behalf of your club, select either “Yes” or “No” in the declaration on third-party ownership (“TPO”) of a player’s economic rights (see article 18ter of the Regulations).
This declaration refers to all TPO agreements (as defined in article 18ter paragraph 1 of the Regulations) entered into by your club or the player at any time, including all past TPO agreements as well as all TPO agreements that have already been uploaded into the third-party agreement library. Select “Yes” if your club or the player entered into a TPO agreement at any time in the past, even if it has already been uploaded into the third-party agreement library.
Failure to provide mandatory information or the entry of incorrect information in TMS is an offence subject to the administrative sanction procedure (ASP).
When releasing a player ("Former Club" view)
When entering a release instruction, select “Yes”, enter the third party’s name and indicate whether the payment is a fixed amount or a percentage of the player’s income.
You must then upload a copy of the third-party ownership agreement.
To add another third-party agreement, click “Add another third party”.
Note: this information is confidential and will only be visible to the club entering the information and FIFA.
If you select “No”, no further action is required.
Failure to provide mandatory information or the entry of incorrect information in TMS is an offence subject to the administrative sanction procedure (ASP).
When engaging a player ("New Club" view)
When entering an engaging instruction, select “Yes” or “No”. No further action is required.
Viewing the uploaded third-party agreements
To view the third-party agreements you have uploaded, search for the player and click “View details”.
Navigate to the “Third-party agreement library” section to view the details of the agreement. You can view only the agreements that your organisation has uploaded in TMS. Click “OK” to exit the library.
When entering new transfers, clubs are required to complete the third-party ownership declaration. If the former club selects “Yes” in the declaration, it must upload the third-party agreement even if this document was already uploaded in the third-party agreement library during the transition period.
