A guide to solidarity payments in football under the FIFA Regulations

This article considers the operation of Article 21 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP)[1], which provides as follows:

“If a professional is transferred before the expiry of his contract, any club that has contributed to his education and training shall receive a proportion of the compensation paid to his former club (solidarity contribution). The provisions concerning solidarity contributions are set out in Annexe 5 of these regulations.”[2]

This summary guide addresses the following issues regarding solidarity payments:

• The extension of the solidarity payments regime to certain domestic transfers.

• What solidarity contribution is payable, to whom and in what proportions?

• Can clubs agree who shall bear the financial burden of the solidarity contribution?

• Loan agreements.

• ‘Cash plus player’, or ‘player swap’ deals.

• ‘Buy out’ clauses.

• The timeframe for making solidarity payments.

• Disputes regarding solidarity payments.

• Key takeaways