Iranian Football League Issues Directive to Sepahan FC Regarding Player Registration
The Iranian Football League Organization has sent an official communication to the CEO of Sepahan FC concerning the status of Portuguese player Ricardo Alves.
In a letter addressed to Mr. Nikfar, the Managing Director of Sepahan Isfahan Club, the organization outlined the regulatory framework governing player transfers and contracts. The core issue revolves around the attempted registration of Ricardo Alves, whose contractual status with his previous club, Tractor FC, remains unresolved.
The League Organization’s communication clarifies several key regulatory points:
Understanding Player “Free Agent” Status
According to federation transfer regulations, a player is only considered a free agent if they terminate their contract during an official transfer window and provide the League Organization with a copy of the termination. If a contract is terminated outside a transfer window, the player does not qualify for free agent status.
The Sepahan FC Registration Request
The letter details that on the final day of the recent transfer window, Sepahan FC submitted a request to register Ricardo Alves, attaching his new contract but without providing documentation proving the termination of his existing agreement with Tractor FC. Because his contract with Tractor was still active, the registration was not processed. This overlapping contractual situation was subsequently referred to the judicial committees of the Football Federation for review.
Seeking an Amicable Resolution
The Secretary General of the Football Federation recently mediated a meeting between the managing directors of Sepahan and Tractor FC, along with heads of several federation committees, in an effort to resolve the dispute amicably. Unfortunately, the clubs were unable to reach a necessary understanding.
A Conditional Pathway Forward
Following a subsequent review, the Head of the Federation’s Status Committee provided a directive. The League Organization stated that, without making a judgment on the validity of the player’s contract with Tractor FC, it would proceed with registering the player for Sepahan FC provided the club submits a written guarantee.
This guarantee must state that Sepahan FC accepts full responsibility for any and all consequences resulting from potential rulings by the competent judicial bodies of FIFA. The organization emphasized that any liability from an unjustified contract termination would fall solely upon the player and the registering club, Sepahan.
The League Organization has confirmed that, to date, neither the club nor the player has submitted a formal contract termination document. The directive offers a conditional solution, allowing for the player’s registration as a free agent contingent upon Sepahan’s written acceptance of all associated legal and financial risks.
