FIFA EXPAND TRANSFER MATCHING SYSTEM TO FIGHT CRIME
Baku, September 30 (AZERTAC). Fifa has claimed it can help prevent criminals laundering money through football by expanding the use of the Transfer Matching System (TMS).
TMS requires both clubs in a player`s move to enter verified details of the payments and parties involved online.
"TMS is a relatively simple online system but it will have a tremendous impact," said president Sepp Blatter.
The system began in 18 countries in February 2008 and will be compulsory around the world from October.
If clubs fail to enter the required details, the national associations will be unable to grant the paperwork needed to complete a deal.
More than 30 pieces of information - including details of the player, the clubs, the bank accounts and any payments made to previous clubs - must be supplied for each move.
A report from the Financial Action Task Force, an inter-governmental body set up to combat money laundering, in July 2009 stated that player transfers were one of the areas that made football vulnerable to financial criminals.
It cited a ruse involving an unnamed player whose signing-on fee was disguised as a payment to a foreign agent to avoid tax.
Fifa also hopes that TMS will reduce the number of transfers of under-age players.
Over the past year, 921 transfer requests for under-18s had been received by Fifa of which 174 were turned down.
The international players` union FIFPro has called for a relaxation of the rules surrounding players` participation in the Champions League after a transfer.
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