Football fans are obsessed with it; the media is constantly reporting on its breaking news: the football transfer system is one of the most exciting aspects of the beautiful game. Nonetheless, it is also a source of massive transfers of wealth between leagues, clubs, players, and agents. Yet, the legal mechanisms underpinning its functioning are rarely understood by fans, journalists, and many players who are subjected to it.
The existence of the transfer system depends on a peculiar transnational regulatory infrastructure, built around the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). The RSTP sets the ground rules that constitute the global transfer market, while FIFA’s Football Tribunal resolves the disputes which arise from them. A complex ecosystem of professionals has emerged around this transfer system, with agents, lawyers, club and federation officials making it work.
For the first time, the Asser Institute will offer an online course from September to December of 2026, aimed at equipping its participants with the necessary knowledge and know-how to effectively navigate the FIFA transfer system. The course will cover the following key issues:
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History and foundations of the FIFA Transfer System;
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The RSTP and the termination of contracts with or without just cause;
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The rights of players under the RSTP;
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The RSTP’s rule concerning training compensation and solidarity;
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The regulation of the ‘dark sides’ of the transfer system (minor transfers, third-party ownership/influence);
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The functioning of the FIFA Tribunal and CAS in resolving disputes stemming from the RSTP;
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The compatibility of the FIFA RSTP with EU law.
The substance will also cover the latest changes to the RSTP introduced by FIFA in June 2026, which are due to come into force in 2027. The course will consist primarily of in-depth academic lectures on the rules and processes underlying the operation of the RSTP, and a final roundtable with a range of practitioners to discuss the future of the transfer system. The lectures will be delivered live (the recordings will be available afterwards to the participants who may have missed them) and will allow for direct engagement with the participants.
This online course is open to everyone interested in acquiring a deep understanding of Football’s transfer system as a regulatory phenomenon. It is particularly suited to advanced students and young professionals eager to work around the transfer systems, be it to support regulators or advise players and/or clubs.
The course’s coordinator and main lecturer will be Dr Antoine Duval, Senior Researcher at the Asser Institute and a leading scholar in the field of transnational sports law. Duval has written extensively on the transfer system for academic publications and professionals and is regularly consulted by journalists on the subject. He has extensive knowledge of the institutions, rules and processes constituting the FIFA transfer system and of the role of EU law in (re)shaping the RSTP into its latest form.
Lectures dates
- 30 September 2026
- 7 October 2026
- 14 October 2026
- 21 October 2026
- 28 October 2026
- 11 November 2026
- 18 November 2026
- 2 December 2026
- 9 December 2026
- 16 December 2026
All lectures will take place from 16:00 to 18:00 CET.
Registration
- Early bird rates: regular €750 | students/PhD researchers/NGO €450 (valid until 1 September 2026)
- Can't join us this year? Please fill out this short form to receive updates on future editions and upcoming enrolment dates.
- Questions? Please review our terms and conditions before registering. For any inquiries, contact our team at educationtraining@asser.nl. We aim to respond within two business days.