The FIFA Legal Handbook

The FIFA Legal Handbook contains updated FIFA Rules and Regulations, statutory documents, legal guides, and circulars, offering a comprehensive overview of football's governing body's legal frameworks. It includes essential documents like the FIFA Governance Regulations, the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, and the FIFA Clearing House Regulations, providing guidance to the global football community.

The handbook is updated annually with the latest changes and amendments.

Regulations and Rules

1. Full texts of major governing documents, such as:

2. FIFA Statutes (foundational governance rules).

3. FIFA Governance Regulations (outlining organizational structures and decision-making).

4. FIFA Disciplinary Code (procedures for sanctions, ethics violations, and dispute resolution).

5. FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) (covering player contracts, transfers, training compensation, and solidarity mechanisms—updated to address modern issues like multi-club ownership).

6. FIFA Clearing House Regulations (managing financial distributions from transfer fees to ensure fair revenue sharing).

   
   

   Additional Resources:

   1. Legal guides and explanatory notes on complex topics (e.g., agent licensing, anti-doping, and safeguarding).

   2. Circular letters from FIFA's administration, providing clarifications or temporary directives.

   3. References to related frameworks, such as those for women's football, youth development, and integrity measures.

      
      

   Updates in 2025

   This edition incorporates changes driven by recent global football developments, including enhancements to player welfare, digital transfer systems, and compliance with international standards (e.g., data protection under GDPR-like principles). It builds on prior years by integrating feedback from stakeholders and aligning with FIFA's broader reform agenda.

   
   

Purpose and Importance

The handbook acts as a "one-stop shop" to streamline legal navigation in football, reducing the need to sift through disparate documents. It supports:

1. Compliance: Helping entities avoid penalties by staying current with rules.

2. Education: Aimed at lawyers, administrators, and decision-makers in over 200 FIFA member associations.

3. Dispute Prevention: By clarifying procedures for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and FIFA's internal bodies.

   
   

For deeper dives, users can explore FIFA's Football Legal Annual Review (FLAR) 2025, a companion publication analyzing case law and trends. Note that while the handbook is authoritative for reference, official interpretations come from FIFA's legal department.

More information & download your copy in English,

FIFA Legal Handbook 2025_EN.pdf

Download PDF • 37.50MB