This is the first time that FIFA’s judicial bodies have imposed a sanction for breaches regarding bridge transfers since the provisions entered into force in 2020. The case relates to a player who signed his first professional contract with Paris FC on July 1, 2020 and registered with the said club on 6 July 2020, after having played in France and Spain as an amateur. Six weeks later, the player was transferred to Angers SCO and duly registered on August 18, 2020.
Following an investigation carried out by the FIFA Regulatory Enforcement Department, the Disciplinary Committee found that the clubs failed to rebut the presumption that a bridge transfer took place. Taking into account all the facts and circumstances concerning the case, it was ruled that the transfer to Paris FC had not been arranged for the purpose of the player playing organised football, but rather to circumvent the rules concerning training compensation.