MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONALISM AND PLAYERS' STATUS COMMITTEE Dr. Abdullah ...

58 Pages·2013·0.57 MB·English

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONALISM AND PLAYERS' STATUS COMMITTEE
Dr. Abdullah Suleiman Al Bargan Chairman
Mr. Abdullatif Al Herish / Legal Advisor Deputy chairman
Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Sekhan Member
Mr. Mo'aidh Mohammed Al Shehri Member
Mr. Majid Dekhailallah Almalki Member

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REGULATIONS
ON PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS' STATUS AND TRANSFER
IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

2013 AD/ 1434AH
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CHARTER 1: DEFINITIONS

Article 1: DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of these regulations, the definitions detailed below apply unless otherwise is
explicitly expressed in the text or its context requires:
1/1 Kingdom: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
1/2 SAFF: Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
1/3 Board: SAFF Board of Directors
1/4 FIFA: International Football Federation
1/5 Statutes: SAFF Statutes
1/6 Committee: SAFF Professionalism & Players' Status and Transfer Committee
1/7 Former Club: Club from which the player is transfer as professional or amateur
1/8 Current Club: Club with which player is registered as professional or amateur
1/9 New Club: Club that the player is joining inside or outside Saudi Arabia
1/10 Current Association: Association to which the current club is affiliated
1/11 New association: Association to which the new club is affiliated
1/12 The game: Football
1/13 Player: Player who is registered for any club affiliated to SAFF as amateur or professional
1/14 Players' Agent: Natural person that is registered and licensed by SAFF or FIFA or any of the
other associations as players' agent.
1/15 Protected period: a period of three entire seasons or three years, whichever comes first,
following the entry into a contract, where such contract is concluded after the 28th birthday of the
professional; and a period of two entire seasons or two years whichever comes first following the
entry into a contract, where such contract is concluded after the 28th birthday of the professional.
1/16 Academy: an organization or an independent legal entity whose primary long-term objective
is to provide players with facilities and infrastructure necessary for training.
1/17 Registration Period: Two periods fixed by the Committee for registering new professionals or
transferring them at the beginning or mid of a sporting season.
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1/18 Sporting season: a period annually fixed by SAFF for official competitions before the
beginning of the sporting season.
1/19 Annual Circular: A circular issued annually by the Committee before or during a sporting
season.
1/20 Circulars: periodical directives issued by SAFF to clubs.
1/21 Team: all national teams belonging to SAFF.
1/22 Training Compensation: payment made to any club/ clubs that had previously contributed to
training and education of a player during the age category between (12-23) years if a professional
transfers during the course of the contract.
1/23 Solidarity contribution: the amount paid for any club/clubs that contributed previously to
training and education of a player during the age category between (12-23) years if a professional
transfers during the course of the contract.
1/24 Transfer Matching System (TMS): a web-based data information system with the primary
objective of simplifying the process of international player transfers as well as improving
transparency and the flow of information.

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CHAPTER 2
Objectives of the Regulations

Article 2: Objectives of the Regulations
The Regulations aim to achieve the following objectives:
2/1 Setting out the rules and criteria governing the player's relationship with the club, association
and players' agents.
2/2 Regulating players' status and transfers between clubs applying professionalism.
2/3 Dissemination of professionalism culture and its requirements among clubs and players and
their agents.
2/4 Securing additional income resources for clubs through loan and transfer contracts.
2/5 Setting a minimum limit for the wages of professional players pursuant to conditions provided
for in these regulations.

Article 3: Field of Application:
3/1 These regulations are the main reference for solving disputes arising between clubs, players
and their agents relating to their status and their eligibility for registration and domestic and
international transfers.
3/2 These regulations do not apply to disputes of international nature.
3/3 A claimant or his agent or representative may submit his complaint of international nature
directly to FIFA.
3/4 The Committee may apply these regulations to disputes where one of its parties is not Saudi
who agrees on such procedure.

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CHAPTER 3:
Conditions and Obligations of Saudi professional player and club, and the minimum limit for
wages of a Saudi professional player

Article 4: Conditions for Acquiring a Professional Status
In order to acquire professional status, a Saudi player shall meet the following requirements:
4/1 He has completed (18) calendar years of age when signing a contract, and a professional
contract may be signed with players who are under this age by agreement of their parents
provided that the term of his contract does not exceed three years. Any conditions providing for a
longer term than 3 years shall not be recognized.
4/2 For a player who has completed (18) years of age, he must have as a minimum an
intermediate school certificate or its equivalent.
4/3 He should devote all his time for playing for his club during the term of his professional
contract.
4/4 He should not be subject to a suspension or disciplinary decision that is still in effect, or to a
decision banning him completely from practicing the game.
4/5 He shall be bodily fit and of good health according to a medical certificate proving that.
4/6 He shall sign a professional contract with a club according to the provisions of these
regulations.

Article 5: Obligations of a Saudi Professional Player :
A Saudi professional player shall abide to the following:
5.1 Rules, laws, regulations, decisions and circulars issued by SAFF and FIFA, as well as sporting
traditions and the contract provisions.
5.2 Joining the national teams immediately when requested by SAFF as provided for in Annex
(1) of FIFA Regulations on Players' Status and Transfer, and if the interest of the team
requires releasing them for a longer period of time, SAFF may extend the period on
condition that this action does not conflict with any official participation of the club.
5.3 He shall attend training, camps, seminars, press conferences and he shall take part in
friendly and official matches of the club or the team according to scheduled dates. Players
who are students are exempted from the morning training only during school days,
provided that this training shall be compensated in other periods to be determined by the
club.
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5.4 He shall obtain the club's written consent in case he leaves Saudi Arabia during a season or
vacations.
5.5 He shall maintain his bodily fitness and sit for technical examinations and periodical medical
examinations and treatment according to schedules prepared by technical and medical staffs
of the club and SAFF and examinations performed by Anti-Doping National Committee.
5.6 He shall have sporting spirit and conduct and be a good example on and off the field of play.
5.7 He shall not accept any material support or gifts at all without the consent of the club.
5.8 He shall practice all contractual rights outlined in these regulations via a licensed players'
agent.
5.9 He shall not participate in any sporting, cultural, or social activity, or playing in friendly
matches for a club other than his current one unless he has obtained its written consent.
5.10 He shall pursue his education and promote his cultural level such that it helps in
guaranteeing his future career.
5.11 He shall inform his current club and obtain its consent when negotiating or signing a
contract with a new club unless the employment contract has expired or will expire during the
last six months of his current contract.
5.12 He shall not agree to conduct any direct negotiation with clubs after joining the national
teams; otherwise the player will be subject to sanctions according to the articles of Chapter 14
(Violations and Sanctions) of these regulations.
5.13 He shall participate and exert the utmost efforts and capabilities in performing the
activities and tasks provided for in the contract signed with him unless the player's health does
not allow for this according to medical reports issued by an established body approved by the
committee.
5.14 He shall respect the agreements and contracts signed with the official sponsors of the club
without prejudice to the provisions of these regulations.

Article 6: Minimum limit for the wages of Saudi Professional Players:
6/1 Saudi Professional players who have not yet completed the age of (18) years.
6/1/1 Saudi Professional players in premiere division clubs:
6/1/1/1 Monthly salary not less than (SAR 4000).
6/1/1/2 Annual Housing allowance not less than (SAR 12,000).
6/1/1/3 Transportation allowance not less than (SAR 400) per month.

6/1/2 Saudi Professional players in First division clubs:
6/1/2/1 Monthly salary not less than (SAR 3000).
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6/1/2/2 Annual Housing allowance not less than (SAR 9,000).
6/1/2/3 Transportation allowance not less than (SAR 300) per month.

6/2 Saudi Professional players who have completed (18) years of age.
6/2/1 Saudi Professional players in premiere division clubs:
6/2/1/1 Monthly salary not less than (SAR 8000).
6/2/1/2 Annual Housing allowance not less than (SAR 24,000).
6/2/1/3 Transportation allowance not less than (SAR 800) per month.

6/2/2 Saudi Professional players in First division clubs:
6/2/2/1 Monthly salary not less than (SAR 6000).
6/1/2/2 Annual Housing allowance not less than (SAR 18,000).
6/2/2/3 Transportation allowance not less than (SAR 600) per month.

Article 7: Changes made to the wages of Saudi Professional Player:
7/1 A club may raise the wage of a Saudi professional above the minimum limit set in these
regulations for once a year provided that it shall inform the committee in writing of this action.
7/2 without prejudice to the condition in the contract relating to the club that relegates to 1st
division clubs, a club may change the wage of a Saudi professional in the first registration period
after declaring its relegation officially, based on the minimum limit of the wage of a Saudi
professional stipulated in these regulations.
7/3 without prejudice to the condition in the contract relating to the club that promotes to
premiere division clubs, a club may change the wage of a Saudi professional in the first registration
period after declaring its promotion officially, based on the minimum limit of the wage of a Saudi
professional stipulated in these regulations .
Article 8: Obligations of Clubs:
The obligations of Clubs are as follows:
8/1 To abide with the rules, laws, regulations, decisions and circulars issued by SAFF and FIFA as
well as sporting traditions and provisions of the contract.
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8/2 A club shall be represented by the chairman of its Board of Directors or his deputy or the
General Secretary, and the club's president may entrust in writing some of his authorities to
professionalism director with regards to professionalism affairs.
8/3 Appointing a director for professionalism and transfer Matching system (TMS) who shall meet
these conditions:
8/3/1 He shall be a Saudi national.
8/3/2/ He must hold a suitable university degree.
8/3/3 He must be fluent in English, speaking and writing, and in case this condition is not met the
club must have an interpreter whose name and qualifications must be provided for the
committee.
8/3/4 He must not be a member of the Board of directors of the club or of any other club.
8/4 To submit the final calculation for the last sporting season after being approved by an
authorized legal accountant.
8/5 To provide before the beginning of each sporting season a financial plan approved by a legal
accountant showing the club's ability to cover the expenses of his practice as a professional.
8/6 A health insurance covering the cases of injury, inability or death throughout the course of the
player's contract with the club as well as the cases whose effects extend after the expiry date of
the contract.
8/7 The number of "A" team players in a club shall not exceed the number fixed by SAFF.
8/8 The number of Saudi professionals in premiere division clubs shall be not less than (18) players
as a minimum.
8/9 The number of Saudi professionals in 1st division clubs shall be not less than (8) players as a
minimum.
8/10 The decrease in the number of Saudi professional players below the minimum limit shall be
completed during the first registration period following the occurrence of such decrease or a
signing a contract outside registration periods as provided for in Article 19 of these regulations if
the decrease was due to retirement or expiry of the professional player's loan or to an incurable
disease or death or permanent impairment or fracture or cut of a cord. In case of injury, there
should be a medical report approved by an authority accepted by the Committee stating that the
recovery period of such injury is at or after the beginning of the registration period following the
injury.
8/11 A player shall be allowed to complete his study in such a way that helps him guarantee his
future employment.
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8/12 To provide the committee with a copy of any of the correspondences relating to players or
players' agents within (72) hours of the date of issuing their copies, and in case of any breach the
correspondences shall be of no legal effect.
8/13 Preparation of internal regulations at the club defining sanctions and rewards for players
which shall be approved by the Committee, and informing the players and providing them with a
copy of these regulations and taking their signature for their information.
8/14 To provide the Committee with financial releases promptly when signed by players or by
players' agents for verification and approval.
8/15 A club wishing to negotiate or sign a contract with a Saudi professional player shall notify his
current club and obtain its agreement in writing prior to starting negotiation with it unless his
contract has expired or will expire during the last six months of his current contract.
8/16 Settlement of all established financial obligations of clubs and/ or players and/ or players'
agents. The Committee may take the necessary measures for maintaining and payment of the
rights including deduction directly from the professional aid and/ or ban on registration of new or
transferred players or any other suitable measures according to SAFF regulations.
8/17 Regular payment of the monthly income of players may not be delayed. The Committee may
take the necessary measures for maintaining and payment of the rights including deduction
directly from the professional aid and/ or ban on registration of new or transferred players or any
other suitable measures according to SAFF regulations.
8/18 A club shall keep regular records of players and shall provide such records for SAFF when
requested.
8/19 Payment of professional aid allocated for them by SAFF as regards salaries of only Saudi
professionals and providing the Committee with the documents demonstrating such payment.
8/20 To allow the player to join the national teams and training camps when requested by SAFF in
accordance with provisions of Annex (1) of FIFA Regulations on Players' status and Transfer, If the
interest of the team requires releasing them for a longer period, SAFF may extend the period
without prejudice to any official participation of the club.
8/21 A club shall not perform any direct negotiations with players joining national teams.
8/22 Signing all formats and documents submitted by clubs to the Committee by the chairman of
the club's Board of Directors or his deputy or the general secretary; the president of the club may
authorize in writing the director of professionalism to sign. All formats and documents shall be
signed by the player or his agent. In all cases, the name and signature of the director of
professionalism shall be affixed on formats and documents submitted to the Committee. In case
this director refuses for any reason to do so, the club may inform the Committee directly about
such refusal.
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