FIFA Circular no. 1970: Contractual Stability, Player Participation and Social Dialogue After Diarra

FIFA Circular no. 1970, 1 September 2026

Date of text: 2026-09-01

On 1 September 2026, FIFA published Circular no. 1970, setting out the final and long-term amendments approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on 10 June 2026 following the CJEU’s judgment in the Lassana Diarra case. The new framework follows the interim measures introduced by Circular no. 1917 and reflects the outcome of FIFA’s consultations with European Football Clubs (EFC), FIFPRO, the World Leagues Association (WLA) and the confederations.

The main changes set out in FIFA Circular no. 1970 are detailed below, by reference to the regulations amended following the Diarra judgment. The revised FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal will enter into force on 1 January 2027.

Notably, the new FIFA RSTP provisions apply only where the facts giving rise to the dispute occur after they enter into force. In addition, Article 17 par. 1 and Article 21bis apply only to contracts concluded after the new RSTP enters into force. The revised FIFA Governance Regulations have been in force since 1 July 2026.

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