Transfer of Minors (18 and Under)

[Mosiah]

Hopefully, this puts to rest the argument as to whether Adu could have signed for ManU, and why Keith Kelly and Bibi Gardner may have signed for foreign clubs before their 18th birthday.



Article 19 Protection of Minors

1. International transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18.

2. The following three exceptions to this rule apply:
a)The player’s parents move to the country in which the New Club is located for reasons not linked to football; or
b)The transfer takes place within the territory of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) and the player is aged between 16 and 18. In this case, the New Club must fulfill the following minimum obligations: (conditions are clearly outlined.)
c)The player lives no further than 50 km from a national border, and the club for which the player wishes to be registered in the neighbouring Association is also within 50 km of that border. The maximum distance between the player’s domicile and the club’s quarters shall be 100km. In such cases, the player must continue to live at home and the two Associations concerned must give their explicit consent.

These regulations were adopted by the FIFA Executive Committee on 18 December 2004 and came into force on 1 July 2005. They replace the special regulations governing players’ eligibility to play for Association teams dated 4 December 2003 and the Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players of 5 July 2001 as well as all subsequent amendments, including all relevant circular letters issued before the date of entry into force of these regulations.

[Tilla]

Thank you. This is how I like to see man clarify an issue, instead of just talking from a position of having all the answers as Zeppo was doing. It was king of amusing to see Zeps geting his drawers in a wad over this though.

[Karl]

Hopefully, this puts to rest the argument as to whether Adu could have signed for ManU, and why Keith Kelly and Bibi Gardner may have signed for foreign clubs before their 18th birthday.



Article 19 Protection of Minors

1. International transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18.

2. The following three exceptions to this rule apply:
a)The player’s parents move to the country in which the New Club is located for reasons not linked to football; or
b)The transfer takes place within the territory of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) and the player is aged between 16 and 18. In this case, the New Club must fulfill the following minimum obligations: (conditions are clearly outlined.)
c)The player lives no further than 50 km from a national border, and the club for which the player wishes to be registered in the neighbouring Association is also within 50 km of that border. The maximum distance between the player’s domicile and the club’s quarters shall be 100km. In such cases, the player must continue to live at home and the two Associations concerned must give their explicit consent.

These regulations were adopted by the FIFA Executive Committee on 18 December 2004 and came into force on 1 July 2005. They replace the special regulations governing players’ eligibility to play for Association teams dated 4 December 2003 and the Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players of 5 July 2001 as well as all subsequent amendments, including all relevant circular letters issued before the date of entry into force of these regulations.

Thank you for making it clear that if Adu had passed Sir Alex's test that he would have been signed!

Maybe he would have been snapped up/farmed out/signed by/assigned to..previous to arriving at ManU...by one of the clubs Sir Alex would have considered his 'farm club'...but, a way would be found to have him in ManU's clutches.

What are supposedly barriers, are but obstacles to be legally and, as in the case of Trevez, not so legally/not as intended by the framers of the rules, negotiated.

Adu was found by Sir Alex as being not up to snuff! End of story!

[Mosiah]

I don't believe ManU could have bamboozled the system. I agree that he is not up to snuff, and I think ManU felt the same. But to sidestep the system, I don't know how they could have done it.

If you could cite a single example where one of the big clubs managed to sign a wunderkid under some clever transfer deal, maybe your argument might have some weight.

[OJ]

mo this is not in actuality. I know many players who have transfer without meetings those criteria. It would have been tough to do so wit Adu however because of his status and you cant do his deal on the downlow. But I kow quite a few kids in the UK and holland who dont meet the requirements. They are way around certain things.

[Karl]

I don't believe ManU could have bamboozled the system. I agree that he is not up to snuff, and I think ManU felt the same. But to sidestep the system, I don't know how they could have done it.

If you could cite a single example where one of the big clubs managed to sign a wunderkid under some clever transfer deal, maybe your argument might have some weight.

If I am not mistaken Arsenal has a few in Belgium at the moment?

In any case, it is known that players thought of as having TOP OF THE WORLD potential have been parked at 'feeder clubs' where it is expected they will do some amount of 'growing'.

Aside:
I may if I have the time do some research on Arsenal's young talent pool that is sitting somewhere outside of the head organisation.

At this time I am consumed with the ISSA deal.

[Zeppo]

Thank you. This is how I like to see man clarify an issue, instead of just talking from a position of having all the answers as Zeppo was doing.

But most of all you are irritated that I was right all along.

Anyway, props to Mosiah for taking the time to track down and post the FIFA regs.

[Tilla]

Zeppo, if it makes you happy yes I am irritated and you were right! I hope that puts a smile on your clock.

[Mosiah]

Without giving the details of the transfer, I am unable to know exactly what you are talking about. I am sticking by my story.

[HL]

It's always good to state the name of the source Mosiah.

Guys like myself will think you 'composed' :Article 19 Protection of Minors.
It's not unusual for folks to lift some parts--and omit other significant sections in a document to make a point...

What's the name of of the document that Article 19 was taken?

(HL 3:16)

[Mosiah]

Status and Transfer of Players - check FIFA website.

Sometimes I'll name the source, sometimes I won't!

[OJ]

fair but if you look at who is playing where and when they went there you will understand .

[Mosiah]

But many times, OJ, we are dealing with perceptions, false ones at that. At what age did Bibi and Kelly move to their respective clubs? Did this move happen before FIFA adopted certain resolutions? What did the resolution actually say at the time of the move, since the resolutions are amended from time to time?

Too many questions, OJ. If you feel there are many examples of players who managed to circumvent the regulations, please cite just one example so that we can all examine the details. This way, we can put to rest the question, is Adu good enuff for ManU?

[Karl]

But many times, OJ, we are dealing with perceptions, false ones at that. At what age did Bibi and Kelly move to their respective clubs? Did this move happen before FIFA adopted certain resolutions? What did the resolution actually say at the time of the move, since the resolutions are amended from time to time?

Too many questions, OJ. If you feel there are many examples of players who managed to circumvent the regulations, please cite just one example so that we can all examine the details. This way, we can put to rest the question, is Adu good enuff for ManU?

BTW - The Belgian club where Arsenal "parks" (my term) players is KSK Beveren.

It appears, to me that that club has an arrangement with Arsenal.

Maybe it could be arranged this way - A family moves along with the player to "establish" residence. I think in one instance I heard the mother moved with the child - cannot provide concrete evidence.

In any case, it did not appear important to me as in any and all business it is the only acceptable part of life to conform to the legalities as ways are found to legally complete "the deal"/arrive at the most favourable/most efficient/most acceptable (business) deal.

Impossible is never an option!
(Finding) Solutions is...Yes, "is" - the only way!

[Karl]

But many times, OJ, we are dealing with perceptions, false ones at that. At what age did Bibi and Kelly move to their respective clubs? Did this move happen before FIFA adopted certain resolutions? What did the resolution actually say at the time of the move, since the resolutions are amended from time to time?

Too many questions, OJ. If you feel there are many examples of players who managed to circumvent the regulations, please cite just one example so that we can all examine the details. This way, we can put to rest the question, is Adu good enuff for ManU?

Here is another interesting "progress" of a player.

Djourou was born in the Ivory Coast to Ivorian parents Joachim and Angeline later adopted by his father's first wife Daniele, a Swiss woman.

They moved to Geneva when he was 17 months old. He enrolled at the Payerne Training Center when he was 13 and then in 2002 joined local second division side Etoile-Carouge FC as a midfielder at 15. A few months later he signed scholarship forms for the Arsenal Academy. He officially joined Arsenal as a professional on August 1, 2003.

Mosiah: I think - correct me if I am wrong - but, I think you said the FIFA Statutes you quoted were amended in 2005, if so this signing of the athlete by Arsenal would be before that date.

Also the athlete came via way of being legally an European resident.

...but, could there have been questions of a "business arrangement" between parents i.e. a father seeing the potential of a child and selling the idea of possible "millions" down the road to an ex-wife...and, thus arranging for a "short-cut" to a professional club? (Clearly not the case for this child as the adoption took place when the child was 7 months).

In any case, if such a method was used by a "family" today would that not be a way of conforming with the rules?

Would there be possible other ways to "conform"?

Could Adu's family be induced to leave the US and take up residence elsewhere?

Conclusion:
What is the point I am trying to make?

Adu went on a trial to ManU. If Sir Alex had given him a passing grade, it is possible ways would have been found to have him in ManU's clutches.

BTW - I do not know - Could you inform us if there is a waiting period during which the/any under 18 who had recently acquired resident status could not be signed as a pro?