CAS: prohibition of ownership of players by third parties complies with European and Swiss law

"In its decision, CAS confirmed the validity of articles 18b and 18c of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players under European law (freedom of movement, competition law and human rights) and Swiss law," announced the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 10/04/2017 in publishing its decision in the case between RFC Seraing (BEL) and FIFA dated 09/03/2017.

"The dispute concerned two Third-Party Ownership (TPO) contracts, the first concluded in January 2015 and the second in July 2015. The FIFA Disciplinary Commission banned RFC Seraing from registering players on a national and international level for four consecutive registration periods, and imposed a fine of CHF 150,000," stated the CAS, on 10/04/2017. "The CAS, however, considered that the sanction imposed on the Belgian club was too severe and reduced the duration of the ban on recruitment to three consecutive registration periods," added the legal body based in Lausanne (SUI).

The prohibition of ownership of players by third parties entered into force on 01/05/2015, in accordance with the decision of the FIFA…