Deadline 30. June – the contract dilemma in the corona crisis

FIFA seeks clarity in corona crisis with new transfer market guidelines. But even after the recommendation to adjust the contracts of players worldwide to the real conclusion of the currently interrupted season, many questions are still open.

The bundesliga continues to face plenty of problems around the 30. June – the date of the previously agreed end of the season in almost all european top leagues.

Is the FIFA recommendation legally binding??

No. The world governing body itself says it hopes and expects that the guidelines "will be followed worldwide". The world governing body wants expiring contracts to remain in force until the season is actually over. Club changes should also only be made afterwards. "From my point of view, the recommendation is pure actionism," gregor reiter, managing director of the german football agents association (DFVV), told the deutsche presse agency. "The question of the duration of contracts is not decided by a world association, but by the contracting parties"."

How many players are affected?

In the bundesliga alone, more than 100. For example, the contracts of more than 70 professional players from germany’s top league are due to expire, and the leases of just under 40 players will end on the 30th anniversary of the end of their contract. June. In addition, changes have already been agreed in the summer, such as the transfer of schalke keeper alexander nubel to FC bayern. The german fubball league has so far been counting on being able to conclude the currently interrupted season by the end of june. The DFL did not comment on the FIFA recommendation when asked, referring to the current timetable.

Threatens to 30. June then the gross chaos?

There are also legal experts for whom this date is not the only decisive criterion. According to labor law expert philipp fischinger of the university of mannheim, the contracts were automatically extended beyond june 30. June and will not end until the actual end of the season. The sample contract of the german soccer federation, for example, stipulates a term up to 30. June is planned, but in parentheses the addition "end of the playing year" is noted. "Of course, despite this assessment, it is recommended that the parties involved coordinate their efforts and reach legally secure agreements," fischinger recently told the "kicker" soccer magazine.

What could a solution look like??

The players’ agents association, which according to its own information pays more than 75 members, assumes that professionals will find an agreement with their previous clubs. "If there are any reasons why an end of season on the 30. June, i think it’s possible that those affected were ready for the federal league to discuss the legal framework of their contracts in order to find solutions there," said reiter. "It would have been a feat to negotiate this through, but it could be done."

But what about the european cup season??

The european soccer union UEFA has given priority to the national leagues. Champions league and european league could still be played until august, continental boss aleksander ceferin recently said. What will happen to the player contracts of the european cup participants after the possible end of the national season is still unclear. In addition, a regular conclusion of the leagues in spain and italy, for example, is even further away than in germany. This also affects the transfer window in which players are allowed to move – again, FIFA is open to "flexible solutions".