Training Rights in Argentina: Law 27,211, AFA Regulations and Collective Agreement
By Futbol CV| Series: Training Rights in Football
This article is part of ourGlobal Guide to Training Rights in Football. Here we analyze in depth the Argentine system — one of the most complete in the world.
Argentina has one of the most sophisticated training rights frameworks in the world. It is not based on a single standard, but onthree simultaneous normative sourcesthat overlap and complement: a national law, an AFA regulation and the collective bargaining agreement for professional footballers. Understanding how they interact is key for any professional working with transfers in Argentine football.
First layer: Law 27,211 on the Right to Sports Training (2015)
Law 27,211, enacted in November 2015, isthe only national law in Latin Americawhich establishes sports training rights covering all team sports, not just football. This makes it an advanced standard on the continent.
Main features
Training period:Of the9 at 18 years of age— broader than the FIFA system (12-21) and the AFA regulations itself (12-21). This means that clubs that trained a player from the age of 9 have the right to compensation, something that neither FIFA nor most countries recognize.
Percentage:The5% of gross valuein two moments:
- When the first professional contract is signed: 5% of the total value of the contract.
- On each subsequent transfer: 5% of the gross value of the transfer.
Distribution:It is distributed in10 equal parts(one for each year of the period 9-18), assigned proportionally to each club where the player was registered.
Irrevocability:This is a fundamental point. The law expressly establishes that the right to sports training isnon-renounceable and inaccessible to third parties. Any contractual clause that purports to waive these rights or assign them is null and void.
Legitimation to claim:Any registered “sports entity” can claim — not only AFA clubs, but also neighborhood clubs, regional leagues, municipal sports institutions, etc. This greatly expands the universe of beneficiaries.
Multi-sport scope
Although this article focuses on soccer, it is important to highlight that Law 27,211 applies toall team sports: basketball, hockey, volleyball, rugby, handball, etc. Any club that has trained an athlete in these disciplines can claim 5%.
Second layer: The AFA Regulation (Special Bulletin No. 6814, January 2026)
The most recent AFA regulation, in force since January 2026, establishes a specific training compensation system for domestic transfers between AFA affiliated clubs.
Training period
Of the12 at 21 years of age, aligned with FIFA but more restrictive than Law 27,211 (which starts at 9).
Club Categorization
The AFA regulations classify clubs into four categories according to the division in which they compete:
| Category | Division |
|---|---|
| I | First Division (Professional League) |
| II | First National |
| III | Primera B Metropolitana and Federal A |
| IV | First C, First D, and lower divisions |
Calculation of compensation
Unlike FIFA, which uses fixed amounts per category, AFA calculates compensation as1.5 times the minimum contractestablished in the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the corresponding category of the club obligated to pay. This is a variable value that is updated periodically, which protects against inflation — a recurring problem in Argentina.
Category restriction (descending rule)
An important peculiarity of the AFA system: only football clubslower categoryto the obligated club can claim compensation for training. That is to say:
- A Category IV club can claim against a Category I, II or III club.
- A Category III club can claim against a Category I or II club.
- But a Category I clubcannotclaim another Category I club.
In addition, football clubsCategory IV do not paycompensation for training in no case.
AFA solidarity mechanism
The AFA regulation also establishes a domestic solidarity mechanism of the5%, but with a different distribution than FIFA:
| Age | AFA | FIFA |
|---|---|---|
| 12-15 years | 0.50% per year | 0.25% per year |
| 16-19 years | 0.50% per year | 0.50% per year |
| 20-23 years | Not contemplated | 0.50% per year |
The most significant difference is at early ages: AFA grantsdoublethan FIFA (0.50% vs 0.25%) for each year between 12 and 15 years old. This benefits proportionally more neighborhood clubs and regional leagues, which are the ones that typically train players at those ages.
Third layer: The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CCT)
The CCT for Argentine professional footballers complements the system by establishing the minimum salaries that serve as the basis for calculating the AFA compensation. It also contains provisions on the financial rights of players in relation to transfers.
How do the three layers interact?
The interaction between Law 27,211, AFA Regulation and CCT generates practical complexities:
For domestic transfers:Law 27,211 and the AFA Regulation apply simultaneously. The training club can invoke both, and in practice it will claim the one that is most favorable to it. Law 27,211 has the advantage of a longer period (9-18 vs 12-21) and has no restriction by category.
For international transfers:Law 27,211 (as it is national law) and the FIFA system (RSTP) apply. The AFA Regulations do not apply. Argentine training clubs can claim both for FIFA solidarity and for Law 27,211.
Period overlap:If a player was in a club between the ages of 9 and 11, only Law 27,211 covers it (AFA starts at 12, FIFA too). For ages 12-18, the three standards may overlap.
Relevant case law
Bochófilo Bochazo c/ Estudiantes de La Plata (2018)
First court case that applied Law 27,211. A neighborhood club in a town of 7,000 inhabitants in Entre Ríos obtained compensation for the initial training of a player who later became a professional in Estudiantes de La Plata. The ruling set a very important precedent: the law protects even the smallest clubs that are far from professional football.
Unión de Totoras c/ Rosario Central (2019)
Rosario Central raised the unconstitutionality of Law 27,211, arguing that it interfered with the autonomy of sport. The court rejected the proposal, confirming the full constitutional validity of the law and consolidating the regulatory framework.
CAS — Lazio v Vélez Sarsfield (2011/A/2356)
At the international level, this case of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS/CAS) confirmed that the FIFA solidarity mechanism appliesincluding termination clauses—not only on negotiated transfer prices. Lazio was ordered to pay €726,936 to Vélez. A fundamental precedent for all Argentine training clubs.
Practical impact: why the Argentine system matters
The Argentine system is particularly valuable for three reasons:
Maximum legal protection:The status of national law prevents private agreements or sports regulations from nullifying the right. Clubs cannot give up training rights even if they want to.
Expanded scope:From the age of 9 (by law) training is recognized, benefiting neighborhood clubs, baby soccer and children's leagues that are the real base of the Argentine training pyramid.
Double means of claim:In domestic transfers, the training club can claim by law or by the AFA regulations, opting for the most favorable according to the specific case.
Pending challenges
Despite its regulatory robustness, the Argentine system faces problems ofeffective implementation. Neighborhood clubs are often unaware of their rights or lack the resources to litigate. The AFA does not have an automated system comparable to the FIFA Clearing House to guarantee payments. And Argentine inflation erodes the CCT values between updates, generating distortions in the calculation of compensation.
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