Third-party ownership of players: "Current approach needs to be reconsidered" (FIFA working group)

"There was consensus within the (working) group that the current approach needed to be reconsidered and that the international transfer matching system provided by FIFA TMS would be of assistance in the implementation of the option ultimately chosen (...) to address the topic of third-party ownership of players’ economic rights," said FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) following the first meeting of the working group on third-party ownership of players at the federation's headquarters in Zurich (Switzerland) on 02/09/2014.

"The options discussed ranged from transparency measures, to establishing specific requirements and limitations in terms of quality and quantity, to a prohibition of third-party ownership," added the international federation.

Representatives of Brazil, Portugal (two countries that authorise third-party ownership) and of England (country that banned the practice) exchanged views on "applicable approaches regarding investment in players’ economic rights both at the level of sporting regulations as well as national laws."

FIFA indicated that this…