This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
On June 11, 2020, FIFA announced a series of temporary amendments to help football recover from the impact of the lengthy coronavirus shutdown.
The amendments include allowing the transfer window to overlap with the delayed end of the current season by up to four weeks.
Normally, the transfer window does not open until the season has been completed, but many leagues are only just restarting after being halted in March and will not finish until late July.
However, while transfers will be permitted before the season ends, clubs will not be able to field new signings until the next season begins.
The same rule applies to players moving under freedom of contract.
The transfer window can stay open for up to 12 weeks.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has indicated that the window in Spain will only open once the season has been completed and run from late July to early October.
Similarly, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has said that the window in England will also only open once the season has finished.
Meanwhile, the domestic transfer window in France opened on Monday, despite the season being declared over in late April.
FIFA has called on clubs to extend contracts due to expire before the end of the season in good faith and on equitable terms.
Many players in Europe are set to be out of contract on June 30, several weeks before the campaign concludes.
FIFA has also recommended that players who have signed pre-contract agreements to join new clubs on July 1 be allowed to stay at their current clubs until the season ends.
Additionally, FIFA has introduced an amendment allowing players who are free agents to play for three different clubs in the course of the same season to avoid concerns regarding unemployed players.
