FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FIFA RSTP, what is the maximum duration allowed for a first professional contract signed by a player under the age of 18?
- 5 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 2 years
- 4 years
Correct answer: 3 years
FIFA RSTP Article 18 limits the maximum duration of a first professional contract for players under 18 to three years.
Question 2: Which FIFA body is responsible for settling disputes related to international transfers when the parties are from different member associations?
- FIFA Disciplinary Committee
- Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) (Correct answer)
- Players' Status Committee
- Court of Arbitration for Sport
Correct answer: Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC)
The Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) handles employment and transfer disputes between parties from different member associations.
Question 3: A player who unilaterally terminates a contract WITHOUT just cause during the protected period is subject to which primary sanction?
- Lifetime ban from playing
- A sporting sanction of four months' suspension (Correct answer)
- Automatic retirement
- A two-year international transfer ban
Correct answer: A sporting sanction of four months' suspension
Under Article 17 RSTP, a player who terminates without just cause during the protected period faces a four-month suspension from competitive matches.
Question 4: What does the term 'protected period' refer to under FIFA RSTP Article 17?
- A period during which clubs cannot be relegated
- The first three years of any professional contract, or two years for players under 28 at signing (Correct answer)
- The last year of a contract when a player is protected from release
- A window during which no international transfers are allowed
Correct answer: The first three years of any professional contract, or two years for players under 28 at signing
The protected period is three seasons or years for players under 28, and two seasons or years for players 28 and older at the time of signing.
Question 5: Under FIFA RSTP, which of the following best describes 'training compensation'?
- A bonus paid to a player for completing pre-season training
- Compensation paid to clubs that trained a player between ages 12 and 23 when he signs his first pro contract or transfers before age 23 (Correct answer)
- A fee paid by the national association to reimburse clubs for training academies
- Money allocated to youth academies by FIFA annually
Correct answer: Compensation paid to clubs that trained a player between ages 12 and 23 when he signs his first pro contract or transfers before age 23
Training compensation is owed to clubs that contributed to a player's training between ages 12 and 23, triggered when the player signs his first professional contract or is transferred before age 23.
Question 6: A player is 30 years old and has one year remaining on his contract. He terminates unilaterally without just cause. How long is his protected period?
- Three years
- Two years (Correct answer)
- One year
- He has no protected period
Correct answer: Two years
For players who were 28 or older at the time of signing, the protected period is two seasons/years.
Question 7: Which article of the FIFA RSTP specifically governs the consequences of terminating a contract without just cause?
- Article 9
- Article 12
- Article 17 (Correct answer)
- Article 22
Correct answer: Article 17
Article 17 of the FIFA RSTP sets out all financial and sporting consequences for unilateral contract termination without just cause.
FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players 2
Under FIFA RSTP, what is the maximum duration allowed for a first professional contract signed by a player under the age of 18?