FIFA braced for challenges over player contract extensions

FIFA is braced for legal challenges over the recommendation that player contracts should be extended until the seasons halted by the coronavirus pandemic can be completed.

World football's governing body made the recommendation in a set of guidelines intended to address the complexities caused by the unprecedented shutdown of the sport, and help preserve the integrity and stability of domestic leagues.

Most major European leagues are still hoping to resume at some point, most likely without fans, pushing the domestic seasons well beyond their usual end point possibly even into August. However, many player contracts are set to expire on June 30, with some expecting to join a new club in July.

"You can appreciate the complexity of trying to give some guidelines globally," Victor Montagliani, the FIFA vice president who leads the body's coronavirus task force, told The Associated Press.

"We fully understand there could be individual circumstances in various legal jurisdictions that may arise to questions being asked or even some challenges.

"I guess it's no different than a system we already had that happens even before we had this COVID-19 issue where if there was any challenge, it would it would go through the proper football judicial bodies. ... We fully understand that that may happen again this time and we'll deal with that accordingly, whether it be at the national level, confederation level or even at the FIFA level."
"All contracting parties must reach an agreement and amend the contract accordingly. Further, if there is a new contract starting immediately after the expiration of the old contract, then all three parties (former club, new club and the player) must agree on the extension of the old contract and the modification of the starting date of the new contract."
"And, even if a case goes to FIFA and then to CAS, it will be extremely difficult if not impossible for a club to enforce a unilateral extension of a player's contract."
"At best, FIFA's guidelines may lead to subsequent individual negotiations or collective bargaining on a national level," Demeulemeester said, "but they have no legal value as such."