Player power boosted by new FIFA contract rules

World football governing body FIFA and players union FIFPro have reached an agreement on a "wide-ranging six-year cooperation" aimed at improving the rights of professional players.

New rules will ease dispute resolution between clubs and players in the instances of wages not being paid or players being banned from training with team-mates. There will also be a review of the transfer system and the "health and safety of the players will be addressed, in particular in relation to the international match calendar".

Piat: "Rules changes will protect players"

"This mutual understanding has helped set in motion the biggest changes to football transfer rules since 2001," FIFPro President Philippe Piat said in a statement.

"While clubs in the richest leagues invariably treat players well, there are other leagues in which the employment rights of footballers are routinely ignored. These rule changes will help protect the 60,000 players FIFPro represents against unfair treatment."

The rules came from a wider FIFA agreement with the European Club Association and the World Leagues Forum, who will join FIFPro and FIFA in the newly formed Football Stakeholders Committee.

"Today marks an important milestone in the improvement of the global governance of professional football," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.

jtm/ftm (AP/dpa)