FIFA reaches agreement to help unpaid players

FIFA has reached an agreement which will help players when they do not get paid on time.

According to FIFA, the new agreement will make it much easier for a player who has not been paid his wages to leave a club, although it could not give precise details until the agreement is finalised, which is likely by March.

Victor Montagliani, head of FIFA's stakeholders committee, told reporters on Thursday: "It was an issue that was stewing for a long, long time and they couldn't come to an agreement.

"But, because of our impetus, they've reached one.

"We all like to get paid. It's an employment labour issue and to me that's very important."

Montagliani said the agreement also involved the European Club Association (ECA), the world players' union FIFPro and the World Leagues Forum, which represents major domestic soccer leagues.

FIFA said that, in return, FIFPro had agreed to withdraw a legal complaint it made at the European Commission against the transfer system two years ago.

But FIFPro said in a statement: "We've had constructive talks with FIFA, but its premature to discuss what might happen next regarding our legal complaint against the transfer system, or any prospective deal, until we are satisfied with the proposals put forth."