In a televised statement following today’s meeting of the Football Federation’s Board of Directors, the Federation’s spokesperson shared updates on several strategic topics discussed by the President and board members.

Contract Validity and Legal Framework

One of the central issues addressed was the legal status of player contracts. According to FIFA statutes, any contract signed between two parties regardless of time, place, or method is considered valid and binding. This clarification comes amid recent disputes during the current transfer window, where players signed multiple contracts with different clubs, leading to formal complaints. The Federation emphasized that while registration with the league is necessary for issuing player ID cards, the original signed contract remains the legal foundation for future proceedings.

Transfer Cap and Budget Regulation

Following a prior meeting at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, attended by club CEOs and senior officials, it was agreed that Premier League player contracts for the new season may increase by no more than 30% compared to the previous season. This decision, now confirmed by the Federation’s board, marks the third consecutive year of implementing the 30% cap. The board also discussed mechanisms for distributing this increase across club budgets and emphasized the importance of contractual acknowledgment forms during the transfer process.

Definition of a Premier League Player

A new regulation was introduced to define a Premier League player as one who has played at least 10% of their team’s total matches in the league and other official competitions. This replaces the previous criterion based solely on match appearances and aims to promote fairness and recognition of truly active players.

Support for the U23 National Team

The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to the U23 national team as a strategic priority for the current and upcoming seasons. Clubs are expected to cooperate by releasing players for national duty. As part of a new incentive system:

• Each club may sign up to 6 new players during the transfer window.
• For every player released to the Olympic team, the club receives an additional transfer slot.
• Conversely, failure to release invited players results in a deduction from the club’s transfer quota.

VAR and Technology Expansion

The board reviewed the implementation of VAR technology, which began last season and has shown steady improvement. For the new season, additional VAR equipment will be deployed in the Premier League, with plans to introduce the technology to the Premier Futsal League as well.

National Team Apparel and Future Outlook

The Federation is preparing to announce a new apparel brand for the national teams in the coming months, with a full rollout expected around Nowruz. The board also discussed preparations for upcoming international events, including the World Cup, and called for unified support from clubs, institutions, and the broader football community.