Analysis of FIFA’s 2021 Regulatory Changes – Female Players, Coaches, Brexit And More

On 19 November 2020, the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee (FSC) endorsed reforms[1] to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) which sought to afford greater protection to female players and football coaches. These reforms were subject to the final approval of the FIFA Council.

On 4 December 2020, the FIFA Council approved these reforms[2], along with other important changes to the RSTP and the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players’ Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber (Procedural Rules).  On 14 December 2020, FIFA issued a circular notifying these changes[3] to all member associations, confirming that they would take effect from 1 January 2020.

This article provides an overview of the changes and their likely impact, examining:

1. Specific rules to protect professional female players;
2. The new regulatory framework for coaches;
3. The new exception for the international transfer of minors in the context of Brexit
4. Other changes to the RSTP and Procedural Rules that have taken effect from 1 January 2021.

The new 2021 RSTP and Procedural Rules are available here and here.