Nigeria’s domestic transfer structure is to undergo a massive overhaul from next season.
A series of embarrassing transfer disputes have occurred during the current season, mostly involving Enugu Rangers.
One of these, involving Benjamin Francis, resulted in the expulsion of the Nigerian club from the CAF Confederations Cup, and Nations Cup star Sunday Mba was rendered inactive for months while Warri Wolves tussled with Rangers over ownership of his rights.
These incidents have forced the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) into a plan to adjust and enforce their own rule books.
“From next season, things will change drastically. No contract between player and club will be deemed to have been executed until the copies of the signed contracts have been deposited with the federation,” NFF official Nasir Jubril told KickOffNigeria.com.
While this requirement is covered in the NFF transfer rules, it has not been enforced until now, and Jubril says that, and more, will change.
“The Bosman rule will also be strictly enforced. Once a player’s contract runs out, he will be a free agent as obtains elsewhere and will not require clearance to join a new club.”
Under the current situation, players whose contracts have expired still require clearance papers from their previous clubs before being issued licenses to play for their new clubs.
To ensure that clubs are fully aware of these changes, plans are afoot for an end of season seminar for club secretaries and chairmen to appraise them of the changes.
