FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (“RSTP”): Article 12bis – Non Payment of Salaries
Overdue Payables 💰💰💰
If you’ve been working in the African football space for any amount of time, the post below shouldn’t come as much of a surprise – it’s of a sad player who is owed salaries and is asking his club’s bosses when his money will be paid. He’s being spun yet another line.
Yesterday, I received a call from a player plying his trade in a West African club (no names as I’m not here to name and shame, just to enlighten 👀). He is owed four months salaries! His wife gave birth to their first baby, not long ago.
Last week I received a similar call from a player playing in an East African club who is owed a whopping 8 months salaries 😓.
Unfortunately, this is commonplace in African football and also in some smaller European clubs/leagues. Some players have even informed me that the presidents of their clubs pay them based on their performance. If they have a losing streak, salaries are withheld 😲. So basically, even though they have valid contracts which stipulate a monthly salary, their salaries are being paid like “winning bonuses” 😤😡.
I remember seeing an article by #FIFPRO warning players against signing for clubs in certain countries, but how many players read these documents? This is where #FIFALicensedAgents come into play and should do some research on the clubs they are taking players to.
One positive I am taking out of both scenarios above is that both players are not nationals of the countries they are playing in, which makes it a transfer with an international dimension, and means that FIFA will be competent to hear any claims submitted 👩🏽⚖️. Article 12 bis (which I will discuss in another post) makes it so easy now to submit claims against offenders. However, it’s never wise to bite the hand that feeds you…… (or doesn’t in this case 😏) so any claims should only be submitted once the player has “escaped” from the club.
That’s all well and good, but where does that leave the player in the meantime? 🤷🏽♀️…. Sad, frustrated, demotivated, unable to send money to family, unable to cater for his own needs…. etc.
PS – If you are a player reading this and you ever find yourself in this situation, seek legal advise and please THINK TWICE before signing a “mutual termination” agreement because that’s another way clubs “rid” themselves of the debt and responsibility…. You could be signing away what is rightfully due to you…
To be continued…. 🫡
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