Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP): Article-by-article explanation

The Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RETJ) — internationally known as RSTP — it is the central rule of football sports law. If there is a document that every player, agent, leader or sports lawyer needs to master, it is this.

The RETJ regulates who can play organized football, under what conditions, how transfers work, what happens when a contract is broken, how minors are protected and how clubs that form players are compensated. It is essentially the law that governs the professional football industry globally.

In this guide you will find an explanation of each chapter and main article of the RETJ, with direct references to the current text (July 2025 edition).It is not a literal transcription of the regulation — it is an explanation designed to make you understand what each rule says, why it exists and how it affects you in practice.

General structure of the RETJ

The RETJ is organized in 10 main chapters and 7 annexesEach chapter addresses a different thematic area, from basic definitions to FIFA jurisdiction to resolve disputes.

They add up to this. seven annexes which develop in detail specific areas: the release of players for national selections (Annex 1), the hiring of coaches (Annex 2), international transfers and the TMS system (Annex 3), compensation for training (Annex 4), the solidarity mechanism (Annex 5), the rules for futsal (Annex 6) and the transitional provisions for war in Ukraine (Annex 7).

Let's go chapter by chapter.

Chapter 01 — Preliminary provision (Article 1)

Article 1 defines scope of application The regulation is binding on all FIFA member associations (federal associations), their clubs, players, agents and other players in organised football.

A fundamental point of Article 1 is that it establishes the obligation of each member association to include in its own national regulations the provisions of the RETJ and to ensure their compliance. This means that, for example, the AFA in Argentina or the RFEF in Spain must transfer these principles to their local regulations.

The article also lists the central principles that each association must respect in its internal regulations, including: the compulsory performance of contracts (art. 13), the right to terminate with justifiable cause without consequences (art. 14), the termination on justifiable grounds (art. 15), the prohibition of termination during the period of competition (art. 16) and the obligation to pay compensation when a contract is broken without just cause (art. 17).

Chapter 02 — Players’ Statute (Arts. 2–4)

Article 2 — Professional vs. amateur

This is one of the most basic but most important articles of RETJ. It states that in organized football only exist two categories of players: professionals and amateursThere is no third status possible.

A player is professional when it meets two cumulative requirements: it has a written contract with a club and perceives a over-expenditure any other player is an amateur.

Article 3 — Resumption of amateur quality

A professional who wants to re-register as an amateur should wait at least 30 days after your last game as a professional. No compensation is paid in this case. But there is one key detail: if the player re-registers as a professional within the 30 months Following the resumption, the new club will have to pay compensation for training.

Article 4 — Cessation of activities

The professional player who finishes his career at the expiration of his contract and the amateur player who ceases his activity remain registered with the association of their last club for 30 months. The deadline is counted from the last official party contested. This article is relevant to determine whether a future registration constitutes a transfer or a first registration.

Chapter 03 — Registration of players (Arts. 5–12a)

This chapter regulates the entire player registration system. It is the administrative machinery that makes organized football work.

Article 5 — Registration

Every player must be enrolled in an association in order to participate in organized football. He may only be enrolled in a club at the same time, and his registration may be permanent or temporary (loan).

Article 5a — Bridge transfer

This article, incorporated in recent editions, regulates situations in which a player is transferred to an intermediate club before reaching his final destination, a practice known as "bridge transfer". The standard seeks to avoid maneuvers to avoid obligations such as training compensation.

Article 6 — Periods of registration (windows of transfers)

One of the most regulated articles of the RETJ. Each association must fix two registration periods per season for professional players. The first cannot exceed the 12 weeks and the second 4 weeks. For professional players, the limits are 16 and 4 weeks respectively.

Article 7 — Electronic sports passport (EPP)

The EPP is an electronic document containing a player’s complete registration history from the age of 12. It includes the federation, its status (professional or amateur), the type of enrollment (permanent or loan) and the clubs in which it was registered. It is key to the calculation of training compensations and the solidarity mechanism.

Article 9 — Certificate of International Transfer (CTI)

In order for a player registered in one association to register in another, the new association must receive the STI The CTI is issued free of charge, without conditions or deadlines. Any provision against it is considered null and void. Players under 10 years of age do not need CTI.

Article 10 — Loans by professionals

Only professional players can be loaned. The RETJ requires a written agreement between clubs that defines the terms of the loan, including duration and financial conditions. In addition, the player and the new club must sign a contract covering the entire loan period.

One important point: a club can have at most 6 players loaned At the same time, you cannot lend to more than 6 players simultaneously. These restrictions do not apply to players formed by the club or under 21.

Article 11 — Unregistered players

A player not enrolled in any club cannot participate in organized football. If it is discovered that he participated without being enrolled, the association can cancel the results of the games in which he intervened.

Article 12 — Enforcement of disciplinary sanctions

The disciplinary sanctions imposed on a player have global effect. If a player is sanctioned by an association, no other player can register until the penalty has been met.

Art. 12bis — Expired debts

Clubs are obliged to comply with economic obligations owed to players. If a club is delayed more than 30 days in its payments without a contractual basis justifying it, it can be punished. The penalties range from warning and warning to the fine and the ban on registering new players for one or two consecutive registration periods.

Chapter 04 — Contract stability (Arts 13–18)

This is possibly the most litigated chapter of the RETJ. It regulates the contractual relationship between professional players and clubs, including termination rules and their consequences.

Article 13 — Contract performance

The guiding principle is simple and forceful: a contract between a professional player and a club may be terminated only on expiry or by mutual agreement. Any termination outside these assumptions has consequences.

Article 14 — Termination on justifiable grounds

Any party may terminate a contract without consequences (without compensation or sports penalties) where it exists justified cause. The RETJ defines it as any circumstance in which one of the parties can no longer reasonably and in good faith be expected to continue the contractual relationship.

Also considered justifiable cause is any abusive conduct of a party seeking to force the counterparty to terminate the contract or modify its terms.

Article 14a — Termination for unpaid wages

If a club owes at least one player two monthly wages duethe player has justified cause to terminate the contract, provided that he has placed the club in arrears in writing and granted it a period of at least 15 days to pay.

Art. 15 — Termination on justifiable grounds of sport

A professional player who participates in less than 10 % of official parties the club in a season may terminate the contract on the grounds of justified sporting cause. No sports penalties are imposed, although compensation may be required. 15 days after the last official match of the season.

Article 16 — Restriction during the period of competition

A contract cannot be unilaterally terminated during a period of competitionFailure to comply with this restriction can be considered an aggravating factor in calculating compensation.

Art. 17 — Consequences of a breach without just cause

This is one of the most complex and relevant articles of the RETJ. It sets the consequences when a contract is terminated without just cause:

Compensation: The non-compliance party must pay compensation calculated according to the principle of positive interest", considering the injury suffered, the circumstances of the case and the country's legislation.

If the player did not sign a new contract, the compensation usually amounts to residual value of the terminated contract. If you signed a new contract, the value of the new contract is deducted during the remaining period of the previous contract ( "reduced compensation"). If the termination was due to expired debts, the player is also entitled to a additional compensation of 3 to 6 monthly wages.

Sports sanctions to the player: If termination occurs during the protected period, the player receives a restriction of 4 months (or 6 in aggravating circumstances) to play official matches. Outside the protected period, there are no sports penalties.

Sports club sanctions: If the club terminated during the protected period, or if the new club induced the player to fail, it is prohibited to register new players during 2 registration periods consecutively.

Article 18 — Special provisions on contracts

This article contains several key procurement rules:

• The name of the football agent, his FIFA license number and his signature must be included in the contract (App. 1).
• The minimum duration of a contract goes from the date of registration to the end of the season. maximum duration is from 5 years. For persons under 18 years of age, the limit is 3 years (Ap. 2).
• A club that wants to hire a professional player must to communicate in writing your intention to the current club before negotiating with the player. The player can sign a pre-contract with another club if your contract expires within 6 months (Ap. 3).
• The validity of a contract can't be subordinated. the results of a medical examination or the granting of a work permit (Ap. 4).
• The grace period clauses (additional time for the club to pay the player) are not recognized, unless they are in validly negotiated collective agreements (Ap. 6).
• The players have the right to maternity leave during the duration of his contract, receiving two thirds of the salary (Ap. 7).

Chapter 05 — Influence of third parties and TPO (Arts. 18bis–18ter)

Art. 18bis — Influence of third parties on clubs (TPI)

No club can sign a contract that allows another club or a third party to assume a position from which it can influence labour or transfer matters affecting the club's independence, policy or sports performance.

The prohibition does not require that the influence has materialized: it is sufficient that the contract give the real ability to influenceInfringements are sanctioned by the FIFA Disciplinary Commission.

Art. 18ter — Third party ownership of economic rights (TPO)

Since 1 May 2015, no club or player can sign a contract granting a third party the right to participate, in whole or in part, in the value of a future transfer. This prohibits at the root the investment of third parties in the economic rights of players.

Contracts prior to 1 May 2015 remain valid until their natural maturity, but cannot be extended.

Chapter 06 — Special provisions for female players (Arts. 18quater–18quinquies)

Art. 18quater — Pregnancy, adoption and parental leave

The current edition of the RETJ significantly strengthens the protection of female players. The central points are:

• The validity of a contract can't be subordinated. a pregnancy test or the fact that the player is or becomes pregnant.
• If a club terminates the contract because a player is pregnant, on maternity leave, on adoption or parental leave, it is considered termination without just causeIt is presumed that the termination was for these reasons unless the club proves otherwise.
• In the event of termination for these reasons, the player is entitled to the residual value of the contract plus additional compensation of 6 monthly salaries.

Art. 18quinquies — Menstrual health

Article incorporated in recent editions that recognizes menstrual health as a relevant aspect in the conditions of the professional player.

Chapter 07 — International transfers of minors (Arts. 19–19ter)

Article 19 — Protection of minors

The general rule is clear: international transfer of a player under 18 years of age is prohibitedExceptions are mandatory and require the approval of the Football Court Player's Statute Chamber (for over 10 years):

If a minor player was not previously enrolled in any club, he is not a native of the country where he wants to register and did not live there at least 5 years uninterruptedArticle 19 (para. 3) also applies.

Art. 19bis — Academies and minors

Academies and clubs that have minors under their responsibility must register them and notify the relevant association of their presence; non-compliance may result in disciplinary sanctions.

Art. 19ter — Trials

The RETJ regulates the testing or trial of minors, establishing conditions to protect young players during these evaluation processes. It is prohibited to request a CTI to allow a player to participate in friendly matches during a trial (art. 9, para. 2).

Chapter 08 — Compensation for training and solidarity mechanisms (Arts. 20–21)

Article 20 — Compensation for training

The compensation for training is paid to the club or clubs that formed a player in two situations: (1) when the player first enrolls as a professional; and (2) in each transfer of the professional player to the end of the calendar year in which he turns 23.

The payment obligation arises even if the transfer is made at the end of the contract. Annex 4 of the RETJ, which classifies clubs in categories according to the level of investment in training and assigns amounts per year of training.

Important note: the principles of compensation for training do not apply to female football (art. 20, last paragraph).

Art. 21 — Solidarity mechanism

When a professional player is transferred before the expiration of your contract (i.e. by means of a transfer with compensation), 5 % of the amount paid The previous club is distributed among all the clubs that formed the player between the ages of 12 and 23.

Payment must be made within the 30 days In the event of partial payments, 30 days after each payment. In cases subject to the FIFA Clearance Chamber Regulation, processing is carried out through the FIFA Clearance Chamber. FIFA Clearing House.

Chapter 09 — Jurisdiction (Rules 22–25)

Art. 22 — FIFA Competition

FIFA has competence to deal with disputes of an international dimension between clubs, between clubs and players, and between associations related to international transfers and contracts. Disputes of a national dimension are resolved in principle before local bodies.

Art. 23 — Football Court

Disputes are resolved before the Football Court The Dispute Resolution Chamber is the central body for contractual disputes between players and clubs at international level.

Article 24 — Consequences of non-payment

If a club does not pay in time and forms the amounts due pursuant to a decision of the Football Court, it may face penalties ranging from fines to fines. ban on registering new players.

Article 25 — Implementation of decisions

The decisions of the Football Court are binding and enforceable; associations must ensure their compliance at the national level.

The 7 annexes to the RETJ

Key concepts you need to master

Where to find the full text

The current RETJ is published on the FIFA legal portal: legal.fifa.com. There you also find the Official Commentary of the RETJ (FIFA Commentary on the RSTP), which is an interpretative guide with jurisprudence of the Dispute Resolution Chamber and the TAS. It is an invaluable resource to understand how the rules are applied in practice.

This guide is based on the July 2025 edition of the RETJ. While FIFA regularly updates this regulation, the general structure and central principles remain stable. In any specific case, always consult the current version in legal.fifa.com and, if necessary, seek the advice of a lawyer specialized in sports law.

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