FIFA are considering changing their transfer window dates to avoid chaos if countries are forced to play out the remainder of the season this summer.
Leagues across Europe are pushing to extend their campaigns into June and July after coronavirus forced them to shut down temporarily.
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Fifa are considering changing the transfer window dates to deal with the impact of coronavirus on footballCredit: Getty Images
But that risks teams being able to sign players while existing seasons are being contested because at present the Fifa registration window will be open by then.
Serie A, Bundesliga and LaLiga clubs are not able to sign anyone new until July 1 – but the transfer window in England and France opens three weeks before then on June 10.
And unless there is a change in the registration period before then, technically there is little in the statutes preventing clubs signing someone before they have finished playing out the ongoing season for their current club.
There is particular concern over players who are due to become free agents when their contracts run out at the end of the season – including loan players – with many expiring on June 30.
Such a scenario would put the integrity of seasons at risk – so bosses at Fifa are having to urgently look into their regulations to see what can be done to prevent chaos.
A Fifa spokesperson said: “Fifa is analysing the current situation and the potential impact it may have on all areas of football, including the transfer window periods.
“More information will follow in due course.”
Some players’ deals will last until the end of the season, whatever date that may be, but others will expire on a fixed date which could be before leagues resume play after the current suspension.
Fifa lawyers are now looking into the ability to extend current deals to take in the remainder of the season in the league in which they are registered.
And they are also looking to see if they can revise the summer transfer registration periods so none open until after each national association has completed their domestic season.
That could have a knock-on effect on next season, with clubs only having a limited window in which to get any summer business done ahead of the new campaign.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
