SFA and SPFL to lift certain rules on youth players moving clubs, MSPs told

Football bosses have said some rules regarding young players’ movement between clubs will be removed.

Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner and grassroots campaigners had previously called for an investigation into young players’ registration with elite clubs over concerns of exploitation.

They had complained that Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) rules restricted youth players’ freedom to move between club academies.

Concerns were raised this was violating UK competition law and potentially constituting economic exploitation of children, in breach of their human rights.

Holyrood’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee held an evidence session with complainers RealGrassroots and the commissioner, as well as their legal representatives, in June.

RealGrassroots argued the rules prioritise the commercial interests of football clubs (who make up membership of the SFA and SPFL) over the interests of youth players.

It further argued the rules limit competition for young footballers in Scotland, violate competition law and restrict children’s rights.

At a meeting of the committee on Tuesday to discuss welfare and sustainability in Scottish youth football, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said he wanted to “correct some of the misinformation that has been presented to this committee in the past”.

He said: “The SPFL rule which requires clubs to pay a development contribution when a youth player moves from one club to another club, as we’ve made clear on numerous occasions and to the best of our knowledge, no development contribution has ever been paid under SPFL rules.

“That’s because SPFL F36 made it clear that no development contribution is payable where the Scottish FA have rules in place for reimbursement for training costs for youth players.

“Because the Scottish FA have always over the 27-year history of the SPFL had such rules in place, no SPFL development contribution has ever been due, but for the avoidance of any doubt the SPFL have now removed all rules on development contribution from its rule book.”

RealGrassroots was concerned the previous rules allowed clubs to prevent youth players from leaving and restrict movement between youth academies.

It said this could result in less competitive pressure to invest in facilities and enhance the quality of the training.

Mr Doncaster also addressed previous concerns over a £10,000 penalty that could be imposed on the young player if they approached another club.

He said: “The Scottish FA rule that prohibits Club Academy Scotland players from approaching another club, there was somewhat inaccurate commentary on June 17 about fines of £10,000 for breaching that rule.

“To be clear, the Scottish FA do not allow for fines of £10,000 to be imposed, and in fact no fine has ever been levied on a young player as far as we are aware under the no-approach rule, but the SFA does intend to remove that rule following consultation with its stakeholders.”

The committee also addressed concerns of a “power imbalance” between clubs and the young players

Ian Maxwell, SFA chief executive, said there are processes in place for players and parents to address concerns at the club.

He said: “It’s more about the processes and the practices both within the club and the association, and making parents and players aware, when there is an issue where is the first point of call.

“In an elite academy set-up they will have a full-time child wellbeing and protection officer within each club. We do a lot of training with them, we do a lot of monitoring with them, and any issues they get and they need any support and advice they can come to us.

“They do and they will come to speak to the association and we can then have conversations with the club to understand what the problems are and try to find the remedy.

“Ultimately if the player is unhappy we have the a child wellbeing panel process in place.”