FIFA Fund for Football Players (FFP)

FIFA Fund for Football Players (FFP) is sponsored by FIFA and FIFPRO. A global initiative to financially support active and former professional players who are unable to obtain payment for outstanding salaries due to financial difficulties experienced by their clubs.

Protocol Governing the FIFA Fund for Football Players June 2021 Fédération Internationale de Football Association President: Gianni Infantino Secretary General: Fatma Samoura Address: FIFA-Strasse 20 P. O. Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland Telephone: +41 (0)43 222 7777 Internet: FIFA.

com Protocol Governing the FIFA Fund for Football Players June 2021 23CONTENTS DEFINITIONS 4I. INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS 5 1 FIFA Fund for Football Players (FIFA FFP) 52 Objective 53 Scope 6 II.

FINANCIAL ALLOCATION 7 4 Amount allocated to FIFA FFP 75 FIFA FFP grant 76 Eligibility to receive a FIFA FFP grant 8 7 Procedure 10 8 Steering Committee 11 9 Assessment 12 10 Notification and payment 14 11 Restriction on receiving training rewards 15 12 Disciplinary measures 16 13 Matters not provided for 17 15 Inconsistency 17 16 Operational management 17 17 Enforcement 18 4DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Protocol, the terms set out in the FIFA Statutes as well as the following definitions (initial capitals) shall apply: Allocation Statement: a document issued to the FIFA Clearing House which provides the necessary information to execute payments through the FIFA Clearing House.

Application form: form submitted via the FIFA Platform to request financial support to the FIFA Fund for Football Players. FIFA Clearing House: separate entity from FIFA established to act as an intermediary in payments deriving from the football transfer system. FIFA FFP: FIFA Fund for Football Players FIFA FFP grant: sum of money paid by the FIFA FFP to a player that makes a successful application pursuant to this Protocol.

FIFA Platform: online digital platform available on the FIFA website to collect applications for the FIFA FFP. Protocol: this Protocol Governing the FIFA FFP. NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders.

Any term in the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa. 5I. INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS I.

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS # 1 FIFA Fund for Football Players (FIFA FFP) The FIFA FFP is a global fund financed by FIFA and established in cooperation and coordination with FIFPRO. The FIFA FFP shall be administered and managed in accordance with this FIFA has a statutory responsibility to constantly develop, improve and promote the game of football globally.

The objective of the FIFA FFP is to financially support players who, as a result of the legal and/or financial situation of their current or former club(s), are unable to obtain payment of all or part of the outstanding salaries owed to them. 6 I.

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS This Protocol defines and establishes: a) the regulatory framework governing the FIFA FFP; b) the general principles applicable to the FIFA FFP; c) the grant of money to professional players; and d) the rights, duties and obligations of all parties involved in the FIFA FFP. The FIFA FFP shall not be utilised for any other purpose beyond the objectives provided in this Protocol.

This Protocol shall be binding upon all parties involved in the FIFA FFP. 7II. FINANCIAL ALLOCATION # 4 Amount allocated to the FIFA FFP FIFA shall establish the annual amount allocated to the FIFA FFP.

The following amounts have been allocated for the period between 1 July 2015 and 31 December 2022: 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2020 USD 5 million 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020 USD 3 million 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 USD 4 million 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022 USD 4 million FIFA may exceptionally approve the allocation of an extraordinary amount to further enhance and support the FIFA FFP at any time.

The following general financial limits apply to FIFA FFP grants. Where the annual remuneration (or a pro-rata) of the player in the relevant a) higher than USD 50,000: i) no more than 50% of the outstanding salary; ii) a maximum of 6 months of the outstanding salary; iii) capped at USD 100,000; 8II. FINANCIAL ALLOCATION b) lower than or equal to USD 50,000: i) up to one 100% of the outstanding salary; ii) capped at USD 50,000.

Subject to the number of applications received and the amount allocated per year, the Steering Committee may deviate from the general financial limitations in paragraph 1. In the alternative to paragraph 2, the Steering Committee may exceptionally award a player in a particularly difficult financial or professional situation an amount which deviates from these limitations.

# 6 Eligibility to receive a FIFA FFP grant To be eligible to receive a FIFA FFP grant, a current or former professional player must meet all of the following criteria: a) The player must be owed all or part of the salary defined in an employment contract with a club affiliated (at the time of execution) to b) The player must have received a final and binding decision in their favour from a judicial authority.

This includes without limitation: a sports arbitral tribunal (e.g. Court of Arbitration for Sport), a decision-making body within a member association (e.g. a national dispute resolution chamber), a decision-making body of FIFA, or a national court or tribunal. In exceptional circumstances, the Steering Committee may deviate from or disregard this criterion.

c) The club must have been formally recognised or declared, by a relevant national or international authority, to be in a legal and/or financial situation which makes the player unable to recover the outstanding salary via any legal or regulatory means. This includes without 9II. FINANCIAL ALLOCATION limitation: the club being declared insolvent, the club being liquidated, or the club being subject to bankruptcy proceedings.

In exceptional circumstances, the Steering Committee may deviate from or disregard this criterion. d) In the alternative to paragraph (c), the club must have been disaffiliated from its member association and the final and binding decision received by the player, as described in paragraph (b), is unable to be enforced through a national or international court or tribunal.

e) The player must have already exhausted all national and international sporting and judicial remedies in order to recover the outstanding salary.

This includes without limitation making a request to similar financial protection funds established at national and/or continental The date upon which the formal recognition or declaration (paragraph1 (c)) or disaffiliation (paragraph 1 (d)) has occurred shall determine the period for which the applicant is eligible to receive a FIFA FFP grant (cf. article 4 paragraph 2).

In exceptional circumstances, the Steering Committee may deviate from or disregard this. A player is permitted to receive a FIFA FFP grant more than once, and more than once per year, if applicable. A player is ineligible to receive a FIFA FFP grant if more than two years have passed since the matter(s) described in paragraph 2 has (have) occurred.

The Steering Committee shall make all decisions regarding eligibility to receive a FIFA FFP grant. 10 III. APPLICATION An application to receive a FIFA FFP grant shall be submitted on the application form available on the FIFA Platform.

a) All mandatory information and documents required in the application form shall be submitted. b) Documents not in an official FIFA language shall be submitted with a translation into an official FIFA language. c) Where an incomplete application is submitted, the FIFA general secretariat shall notify the applicant and request rectification.

d) If the applicant fails to rectify the application in compliance with the request prior to the annual deadline for submitting applications, the incomplete application shall be disregarded. The applicant shall ensure that only reliable, accurate, truthful and complete information and documentation is provided.

When submitting their application, the applicant consents to FIFA sharing with FIFPRO, where necessary, the personal data collected and processed in the application, in strict compliance with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection and the FIFA Data Protection Regulations, and for the purposes of the FIFA FFP.

When submitting their application, the applicant agrees that the decision of the Steering Committee regarding their application is final and binding Applications received on or before 31 December of each calendar year shall be considered by the Steering Committee in the next calendar year. 11 III.

APPLICATION The FIFA general secretariat may, at any time, take action to verify the reliability, accuracy, truthfulness and completeness of any documents submitted by the applicant. The Steering Committee shall consist of: a) an independent chairperson appointed by FIFA and FIFPRO; b) two members appointed by FIFA; and c) two members appointed by FIFPRO.

The members of the Steering Committee are appointed for a term of The members of the Steering Committee are bound by the FIFA Statutes. The Steering Committee shall interpret and enforce the provisions established in this Protocol.

A member of the Steering Committee must recuse themselves from making a decision on an application where, without limitation: a) any conflict of interest exists or is perceived to exist; or b) the member has already dealt with the matter under different circumstances. The Steering Committee shall maintain strict confidentiality on all applications they decide. 12 III.

APPLICATION The Steering Committee shall, together with the FIFA general secretariat, ensure and guarantee compliance with the principles and objectives of the FIFA FFP. The administrative organisation and support for the Steering Committee shall be conducted by the FIFA general secretariat.

Neither the members of the Steering Committee nor the FIFA general secretariat acting in an administrative capacity may be held liable for any action or omission relating to any decision or procedure undertaken in accordance with this Protocol. The Steering Committee shall meet once per calendar year to decide on all applications received in the previous calendar year.

The meeting shall occur no later than 30 April of each calendar year. Only complete applications shall be assessed by the Steering Committee When assessing each application, the Steering Committee shall consider, without limitation, the following principles: a) the eligibility criteria (cf. article 6); b) the general limits applicable (cf.

article 5); c) the annual amount allocated (cf. article 4); d) the financial and professional situation of the player; and e) the number of applications received during that calendar year. 13 III.

APPLICATION The decisions of the Steering Committee are final and binding and not The Steering Committee has full discretion to approve or reject an application for a FIFA FFP grant. This includes without limitation the right to reject an application even where it meets all eligibility criteria (cf. article 6).

The Steering Committee shall have the sole discretion to decide upon the amount allocated to each successful applicant. a) It is not bound by the amount requested by an applicant. b) It may award a higher or lower amount, considering all relevant factors.

c) It may exceptionally approve an amount which deviates from the general financial limits applicable (cf. article 5), subject to the number of applications received during that calendar year and the annual amount allocated. In principle, amounts granted shall be in United States dollars, regardless of the currency provided in the relevant employment contract or the application.

14 IV. PAYMENT PROCESS # 10 Notification and payment Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 30 June of the calendar year in which the Steering Committee rendered its decision. No advance payment will be made to any applicant.

Successful applicants will be paid directly to the bank account stated in their application by 30 September of the calendar year of the decision of the Steering Committee, subject to paragraph 4 below. The bank account must be the personal bank account of the player, and be registered in their name.

Prior to the execution of payment, the FIFA general secretariat shall review all bank account details provided to ensure compliance with all relevant national and international regulatory standards. The FIFA general secretariat may request further information on the bank account details provided. If FIFA is unable to make a payment to a successful applicant, an alternate solution will be individually negotiated.

In principle, payment shall be made in United States dollars in a single transaction. Successful applicants shall bear the cost associated with conversion to the currency of their bank account. Successful applicants shall bear any tax or social charges resulting from the receipt of a FIFA FFP grant.

FIFA bears no liability for how the FIFA FFP grant is used by the applicant. 15 IV. PAYMENT PROCESS # 11 Restriction on receiving training rewards Any club (including its sporting successor) which has caused the FIFA FFP to pay outstanding salary owed to a player is not entitled to receive training rewards until they have reimbursed the FIFA FFP in full.

Where any such training reward falls due, the Allocation Statement issued to the FIFA Clearing House may require that all or part of that training reward instead be paid to the FIFA FFP. 16 V. COMPLIANCE # 12 Disciplinary measures The FIFA general secretariat shall monitor compliance with this Protocol.

a) An applicant that receives a notice requesting information or documentation from the FIFA general secretariat shall cooperate. Failure to comply with notices requesting information shall imply the rejection of the application. b) Following an investigation, the FIFA general secretariat may refer serious cases of non-compliance with this Protocol to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

This includes without limitation an applicant found to have provided untrue or false data to FIFA. c) Following an investigation, the FIFA general secretariat may refer cases of unethical conduct in relation to the application of this Protocol to the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics. 17 VI.

FINAL PROVISIONS # 13 Matters not provided for Any matters not provided for in this Protocol shall be determined by the FIFA general secretariat and the Steering Committee. Cases of force majeure shall be decided by FIFA. If there are any discrepancies in the interpretation of this Protocol in various languages, the English text shall be authoritative.

To the extent that this Protocol is inconsistent with the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Statutes shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. To the extent that this Protocol is inconsistent with any FIFA regulations, this Protocol shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

# 16 Operational management The FIFA general secretariat is entrusted with the operational management of the FIFA FFP and is therefore entitled to make all decisions and adopt the detailed provisions and measures necessary for implementing this Protocol and monitoring their implementation. 18 VI.

FINAL PROVISIONS This Protocol was approved in the memorandum of understanding signed between FIFA and FIFPRO on 31 May 2021, and comes into force immediately. Fédération Internationale de Football Association