Title: OT: Bundesliga GM's decide on transfer changes
THX to Olaf for the info:
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LEAGUE RESTRUCTURES THE TRANSFER MARKET
The excitement was huge, now DFL reacts with a roll backwards: thereıll be new transfer rules for winter.
A storm of indignation went through the league after kicker reported on the new FIFA transfer determinations.
³A joke², said Dortmundıs GM Michael Meier on the determinations that only allow unemployed players and players with less than two games to be transferred in the winter break. ³Not understandable and not realisable², commented Leverkusenıs GM Reiner Calmund. ³I believe that the whole matter will be changed immediately², said Meier last Wednesday to kicker.
On Saturday already the big turning point: DFL agreed on changing the determinations. For FIFA they only had a recommending character anyway as Alan Leiblang, FIFA speaker, confessed: ³How could someone control the sportive reasons?² It was DFL which made the recommendations to binding determinations. On the GM assembly on November 18 the new guidelines will be confessed. Only two principles will be valid then:
1. Player may only be transferred once in a season. Who was transferred in July/August may not leave until the 12 months are over. This rule does not count for pros who extended the contract; they can also leave as long as both clubs agree.
2. From September 1 to December 31 only those players may be transferred who are unemployed at least since July 1. This rule also doesnıt violate EU law. EU demanded of the soccer associations to introduce a common transfer period. The different deadlines as they were used before discriminated the employees.
The clubs delivered good reasons for the immediate change of the rules. ³Currently soccer has different problems, mainly economical ones. In such times you cannot introduce rules that prevent a club from restructuring², said Michael Meier. Calmund argued similarly: ³If a club is threatened by insolvency, they need to have the possibility to transfer players to gain some money. With this background itıs impossible to leave such an important decision to some officials who decide whether there are sportive reasons behind a transfer. Manipulation and chaos would be the consequence².
Obviously DFL took over some FIFA paragraphs and over-interpreted them with German thoroughness and obedience. On November 18 the mistake will be corrected, clubs and players are relieved.
Open remains the question whether players with less than two games have an exceptional right to quit the contract in the winter break. Giving young players enough playing time is an important reason. One rule wonıt be changed though: no transfer within the first year of a contract.
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For US players this definitely is positive, though the situation for D3 and below remains confusing.