Evolution of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes

This article offers an overview of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes from a systematic perspective and describes the consolidation of the regulatory framework applicable to eligibility to play in representative teams since FIFA’s centenary.

Introduction

In the years following the celebration of its centenary, FIFA has proceeded to refine and consolidate the regulatory framework applicable to the eligibility to play in representative teams with the aim to establish a comprehensive set of rules and regulations in this regard.

The existence of a football geography distinct from that of state geography, together with several attempts to abuse the then applicable rules, had indeed forced FIFA to rely on an array of regulatory instruments, such as special regulations, decisions, circular letters or a commentary, to capture and regulate a myriad of eligibility scenarios not initially contemplated in the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes. The applicable regulatory framework became arguably illegible over time for...

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