Transfer windows 'not an obligation' says Aigner

UEFA says that it has recommended the introduction of uniform European transfer windows to safeguard the integrity of its competitions and guarantee equal treatment for all players.

Associations matter
UEFA’s Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner emphasised that it was a matter for the national associations whether or not to follow UEFA’s recent recommendation, which, he said, was "not an obligation".

Wider considerations
The UEFA CEO, writing about the issue in his editorial column in the latest issue of the UEFA Flash publication, said that in making the recommendation at its meeting in Porto last month, the UEFA Executive Committee had wider considerations at heart.

Harmonised periods
Europe’s national associations are being recommended to introduce harmonised transfer periods for European professional football covering a summer period, from the end of the domestic season to 31 August, and a winter period running from 1 to 31 January. Appropriate provisions would be made for countries with seasons running in accordance with the calendar year.

Need for solidarity
"In international football, the national associations are sovereign as far as the management and regulation of activities in their territory are concerned," said Mr Aigner. "However, while there is no question of challenging that autonomy, there are some subjects and areas in which the general well-being and the need for solidarity have to prevail over other considerations."

General interests
"By advocating…that the national associations adopt harmonised transfer windows for professional footballers, the UEFA Executive Committee was not trying to interfere in the affairs of the national associations, but felt that the general interests of our game were at stake," he added.

FIFA regulations
Mr Aigner stressed the importance of the transfer question in the wake of the recently completed negotiations on the issue with the European Union. He said that the new FIFA regulations required every association to fix two transfer windows.

Additional measure
"UEFA’s recommendation is intended as an additional measure that aims to harmonise these periods throughout Europe for obvious reasons, and primarily to safeguard the integrity of the competitions and to guarantee that all players are treated equally," he said.  

Last word
"A recommendation is of course not an obligation," added the UEFA Chief Executive, "and the last word lies with the national associations, which we urge to adopt the proposal agreed by the Executive Committee."