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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• The contract offer rule

This article refers to the following from the FIFA regulations:

• Article 6 of Annexe 4 to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) 
• Pages 395 to 404 of Chapter 8 of the Commentary on the RSTP

Introduction

Special provisions for training compensation apply for transfers of players between clubs affiliated to different associations inside the territory of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA). These provisions apply regardless of player nationality and are designed to reflect specific circumstances pertaining to certain aspects of EU law, most notably the principle of freedom of movement for workers.

The contract offer rule

As a general rule, and without prejudice to the potential training compensation entitlement of the player’s training clubs, if the former club does not offer the player a contract, no training compensation is payable to the club.

Considering that the aim is to prevent any potential obstacles to the free movement of the players within the EU/EEA, the contract offer rule applies regardless of the status of the player with the former club.

Accordingly, to retain its entitlement to training compensation, the player’s former club is required to upload to TMS as part in the EPP review process a valid contract offer that must:

• have been issued in writing at least 60 days before the expiry of a professional player’s current contract or anytime during the player's club registration if the player was registered as an amateur with the former club;
• match the professional player’s current salary, including the fixed salary and any bonuses, benefits, etc. No equivalent contract value requirements apply if the player was registered as an amateur with the former club;
• be documented with comprehensive offer records. Emails can be accepted if the club provides proof of delivery.

An example of a valid contract offer is provided below.

If the former club is not yet in a position to offer a player, a contract it must document a genuine and bona fide interest in retaining the player’s services and is responsible for providing concrete evidence as to why it did not make a professional contract offer but should, nevertheless, be entitled to training rewards. The relevant document must be uploaded to the EPP under the “Exemption of Contract Offer” category. 

For additional guidance, please refer to the article on submitting proof of a professional contract offer or an exemption of contract offer.

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