ECA Media Release
The European Club Association (ECA) and the Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) took note of FIFPro's latest press releases in which they accuse ECA and EPFL of impeding discussions on possible amendments to the transfer system and state their intention to pursue legal action.
Following the latest sub-working group of the FIFA Players' Status Committee on 23 January, it was agreed between ECA/EPFL and FIFPro to hold bilateral meetings to further discuss topics where disagreement exists. Consequently, ECA and EPFL are very surprised by FIFPro's latest press statements. Furthermore, ECA does not understand FIFPro's sudden change in tone, which is regrettable and disrespectful.
ECA and EPFL would like to stress that they have always been committed to an open and fair dialogue within the appropriate institutional framework. Over the last couple of years, a lot has been achieved in different committees and working groups at UEFA and FIFA level involving all stakeholders, which in many cases has led to some concrete positive results for players. These achievements include, but are not limited to:
- Signing and implementing the European Social Dialogue autonomous agreement on minimum contractual requirements for player contracts
- Tackling overdue payables towards players and clubs (ie recently issued new article to the FIFA Regulations on the Status & Transfers of Players)
- Implementing of overdue payables rules within the scope of Financial Fair Play
- Changing the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and Players' Status Committee procedural rules
- Developing a new provision on National Dispute Resolution Chambers
- Lowering the registration age from 12 to 10 for transfers of minors
As agreed at the latest meeting, the European Club Association and the Association of European Professional Football Leagues are open to hold further discussions with FIFPro provided that FIFPro can accept that every stakeholder's point of view must be heard and discussed.