Football Australia have announced the release of their Domestic Transfer System Transformation White Paper.
Developed throughout the fourth quarter of last year, the White Paper will be discussed and consulted with key football stakeholders over the coming months.
Principle III of Football Australia’s XI Principles identified the need for stimulation and growth of the Australian football economy, with a new modern domestic transfer system earmarked as a proposed measure.
The White Paper identifies several key elements of a properly functioning transfer system for consideration and discussion in the context of transforming the domestic transfer system.
These include:
- Administration of Transfers
- Training Rewards and Young Players
- Loans
- Player Eligibility Rules
- Registration Windows
- Transfer Fees
- Special Provisions Relating to Contracts
- Agents
- Dispute Resolution and Player Status Resolution
- Private Academies; and
- Recent amendments by FIFA (Coaches and Women)
Football Australia will conduct a planned engagement process with clubs, players and other members of the football community early this year.
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, said of the developments: “2020 was a difficult year. Despite this, Football Australia took the opportunity to return to its football core and saw the organisation take transformative steps which culminated in the establishment of a bold and innovative vision for the game in the form of the XI Principles.
“To highlight a significant year for the game in 2020, we also successfully secured hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, underwent an internal reshaping to ensure we are ready to implement our strategic agenda, renamed the organisation, revamped the FFA Cup and recently announced the unbundling of the Professional Leagues,” Johnson added.
“The publication of the White Paper, following the Transfer System webinars late last year, is another significant step as we look to bring to life the XI Principles and we are excited to lead with this strategic initiative in 2021.
Johnson outlined the importance of the creation of a modern domestic transfer system, explaining it is a vital link in the Australian football landscape. He believes Football Australia’s role in regulating both the Professional Leagues and growing the game more broadly, will create many more benefits in the football ecosystem.
“The absence of a domestic transfer system has meant that Australian football has been unable to fully integrate into world football by embedding itself in the global football market which has led to lost economic and sporting opportunities for our game over many years,” Johnson said.
“In 2019, FIFA reported that Australia received just US$1.9 million in transfer receipts from a market currently valued at US$7.35 billion for men alone. This low figure received by Australian clubs is in stark contrast to many nations of a similar or lower international ranking than our National Teams, and to many countries with significantly smaller populations than Australia. It also highlights that Australian clubs, from the professional right down to the grassroots, are missing out on vital funds that could be used to underpin and enhance the sport.
“The establishment of a modern Domestic Transfer System in 2021 by Football Australia will seek to remedy the ‘gap’ that has been created in the Australian football ecosystem by providing opportunities to progressive clubs at all levels of the sport to generate new revenue streams which can be deployed into the ongoing training and development of players, and the clubs themselves.
“We believe that the implementation of a fit-for-purpose system will have transformational benefits for football in Australia and particularly our professional and grassroots clubs by reconnecting the game and stimulating growth,” Johnson concluded.
The Domestic Transfer System Transformation White Paper can be viewed here.
