FIFA Clearing House two years on: A game-changer or still a work in progress?

This article is aimed at reviewing and evaluating the impact of the FIFA Clearing House, which since its establishment in November 2022, has sought to change the way FIFA training rewards for football clubs are paid and collected, revolutionizing a sector that had seen hardly any changes in 20 years.

In their analysis, the author draws on their extensive experience working as an in-house lawyer at La Liga clubs and on their own practical insights and from discussion with colleagues across the football industry.

It is hoped this article will provide both practical insight into how these changes have impacted clubs on the ground, as well as offer points for reflection on how the current system may be improved. 

At the outset the author acknowledges the FIFA Clearing House is a positive step towards improving the transfer systems and associated payments in football; however, its execution has revealed either a lack of resources for such a challenging task or a lack of realism regarding the potential delays which negatively impacts on the system's credibility. If improvements can be made and the associated payments through the Clearing House were up-to-date, the author believes that the system would be fair and widely accepted.