FIFA requirements for clubs to compete in top flight?

[Pønch]

I understand there is a set of FIFA requirements that will take effect starting on 2010, that describe the minimum needs that a club must meet in order to be allowed to play in an affiliated country's top flight division. Includes things like being debt free, minimum facilities needed for the stadiums, etc.
Does anybody have a link to the complete set of requirements? I can't find anything on fifa.com :(

[JLSA]

I understand there is a set of FIFA requirements that will take effect starting on 2010, that describe the minimum needs that a club must meet in order to be allowed to play in an affiliated country's top flight division. Includes things like being debt free, minimum facilities needed for the stadiums, etc.
Does anybody have a link to the complete set of requirements? I can't find anything on fifa.com :(

You sure it's not a UEFA (or confederation level) thing?

J

[Jwaksman]

It's got to be uefa. First of all, I doubt FIFA cares what goes on in all of these small leagues. Secondly, any kind of rule like that would wipe out entire leagues in some small asian and african countries. There's just no way.

It is possible that UEFA has a rule like that, though. So I'd check uefa's website.

[code1390]

I think its just a UEFA proposal right now.

[SJJ]

The Asia confederation is upgrading the requirements for clubs to play in their Champions League, which is being re-formed to include only professional teams. http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_166756376.html

[bobodaclown]

i think it's UEFA not FIFA.
And its not the small clubs in Asia that need to worry, but the Debt ridden clubs like Manchester United that really need to worry.

[RichardL]

The head of UEFA floated the idea of the Champions League and UEFA Cup only being open to clubs who aren't in debt. There was nothing about top divisions of leagues.

[DCUdiplomat96]

I understand there is a set of FIFA requirements that will take effect starting on 2010, that describe the minimum needs that a club must meet in order to be allowed to play in an affiliated country's top flight division. Includes things like being debt free, minimum facilities needed for the stadiums, etc.
Does anybody have a link to the complete set of requirements? I can't find anything on fifa.com :(


I dont think FIFA has or should have any authority on policy among how clubs handle their business.. ie Champions league and uefa cup should be on Uefa... Also the same thing on MLS over here in the states, no FIFA official should not have any say so.

[Pønch]

I found the document, finally. It is indeed a set of regulations that all clubs must meet starting in 2010, if they want to be granted a FIFA "license".

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/club_licensing_v4_en_33721.pdf

Interesting read. I agree that if this is actually enforced, poor leagues might suddenly find themselves in the position where they can't issue FIFA licenses to most of their clubs. I suppose that would make them ineligible to participate in FIFA sanctioned club competitions?

[RichardL]

Looking at that, it doesn't really seem to explicitly specify anything. For example, in the mandatory stadium requirements it states details along the lines of "The minimum capacity to be....(to be determined by the national league)"

It looks more like a set of guidelines drawn up by FIFA that leagues can use when applying their own licencing rules, rather than FIFA trying to impose anything.

[MountainHawk]

All I see is a requirement not to be behind in payments to governments and not to owe money for transfers to another team. Where do you see an overall debt limit?