What to focus on while you read
Third-party ownership of players' economic rights (Article 18ter)
Article 18ter bans clubs and players from giving third parties a share of future transfer compensation or rights in a future transfer. Club-to-club sell-ons are not the same as prohibited TPO.
Key points
- No club or player shall enter into an agreement with a third party whereby a third party is entitled to participate in compensation payable in relation to the future transfer of a player, or is assigned rights in relation to a future transfer or transfer compensation.
- The interdiction came into force on 1 May 2015 (with transitional rules for pre-existing agreements).
- A third party is a party other than the player being transferred, the two clubs in the transfer, or any previous club with which the player has been registered.
- Ordinary sell-on clauses between transferring clubs are not automatically prohibited third-party ownership.
Exam traps
- Assuming club transfer authority alone legalises a fund's share of future transfer fees.
- Treating every club-to-club sell-on as prohibited TPO.
- Believing a FIFA agent licence or player consent creates a TPO safe harbour.
Unit outline
Article 18ter: Third-party ownership of players' economic rights