Let’s talk about the FIFA CLEARING HOUSE 😥😩😭 – PART 2
Thank you for all the comments on the previous post and to all those that reached out to offer assistance with navigating the hurdles of the FIFA Clearing House (“FCH”). In theory, the FCH is a brilliant idea, but is African football ready for it ?
Over the next few days, I will share three real life scenarios currently affecting African clubs.
Here goes –
SCENARIO ONE – No Transfer Matching System (“TMS”) account
FACTS ⚽️
The international transfer of the player took place during the last summer transfer window between a CAF club and an AFC club.
The training club (A) did not have an active TMS account.
(A) had previously been paid its share of solidarity compensation under the old player passport system.
No contact was made by the MA for (A) to contribute to the EPP process.
Another training club (B) that was also involved in the training and education of the same player produced the final EPP it was sent via TMS which showed that (A) had not been included.
The FCH was contacted and (A) was informed that the final EPP had already been validated and issued by FIFA with the allocation statement (which we already knew).
(A) was advised “that EPP determinations are conducted on the basis of the registration data provided by the participating MA” and confirmed that the MA participated in the process.
(A) was referred to article 17.3 of the FCH regulations.
According to FIFA, once the EPP has been approved and issued, it is final and binding!
PROBLEM
(A) who invested in the training and education of this player may not receive its training rewards.
QUESTIONS
• What happens to its allocation ?
I see three potential options:
1. It is returned to the buying club ? If this is the case:
Can the training club contact the buying club directly and ask for this payment outside of the FCH framework ?
If so, what if the buying club refuses, can a claim be submitted, and is the FIFA Tribunal competent to hear this case ?
2. It is retained by FIFA 😏
3. It is paid to the MA for youth development 🤔
• Can the training club ask the MA to pay its share of any training rewards that it misses out on due to an error from the MA ?
RECOMMENDATIONS
More support from the MAs and regional FAs for the grassroots clubs that scouted and developed these players and kept them fed, clothed, schooled and motivated, in many cases with the very little funding.
A lot of these club owners “don’t do” technology and some are not fully literate. They are neglected a lot of the time but without them, a lot of these “big name” African players we see in Europe today playing in the EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga, etc won’t be there.
So let’s keep remembering that and support the grassroots 🙏🏾
I’d love to hear your thoughts and/or suggestions.
TBD 💝
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