Bridge transfers under the FIFA regulation

Introduction

In March 2014, for the first time, FIFA sanctioned four clubs from Argentina (Independiente, Racing, Rosario Central and Instituto) and one from Uruguay (Sud América) for participating in “bridge transfers.”[1] The aim of this article is to briefly explain how bridge transfers work, the different purposes they pursue and to analyse FIFA's decision, its grounds and the possible future developments in relation to this practice.

Bridge transfers

There is no legal definition of a bridge transfer, but the name used to label these types of moves is descriptive enough. A bridge transfer is a transfer conducted not directly from the club of origin to the club of destination, but indirectly through an interposed third club (the bridge), where the player is transferred first, for...

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