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Owed Wages? Here's Your Fastest Route to Payment

  • Writer: Vlad Herescu
    Vlad Herescu
  • Nov 7
  • 3 min read

Overdue salaries in professional football breach both contractual and FIFA obligations. Such cases not only affect players’ livelihoods but can also lead to serious sanctions for clubs — including transfer bans, fines, or point deductions.Players facing unpaid wages can file claims directly with FIFA, while also pursuing remedies under national labor laws, ensuring a complete and strategic legal approach.

Three key FIFA mechanisms exist to recover owed wages:

  1. Article 12bis – Fast-track resolution for overdue payment disputes.

  2. Article 14bis – Allows players to terminate contracts for just cause after missed salaries.

  3. FIFA Fund for Football Players (FFP) – Offers financial support when other options fail.


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Immediate Actions for Players

Before initiating legal procedures, footballers should act promptly and methodically:

  • Collect documentation: contracts, payslips, bank records, and any written correspondence.

  • Send a formal notice: clearly state missed payments and provide a deadline (typically 10 days).

These steps establish proof and create a foundation for legal recourse if the club fails to comply.



The Article 12bis Procedure

Overview

Article 12bis of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) provides a quick resolutionmechanism for overdue payments. Players or clubs can file claims before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC)or the Players’ Status Committee (PSC) if payment is more than 30 days late following a 10-day notice.

Example:If a February salary is due by March 1, and notice is sent on April 1, the player may file a 12bis claim by April 11.


Key Features

  • Purpose: Fast-track overdue payment disputes.

  • Jurisdiction: FIFA DRC or PSC.

  • Timeline: Usually resolved within 2 months.

  • Sanctions: Clubs may face warnings, fines, or registration bans.

  • Automatic enforcement: FIFA imposes sanctions once non-payment is proven — even without a player’s explicit request.


Most cases are resolved swiftly once the procedure is initiated, as clubs seek to avoid disciplinary action. However, unresolved cases may be escalated, with players entitled to appeal within FIFA or pursue civil litigation if necessary.



The Article 14bis Procedure

Termination with Just Cause

Under Article 14bis, players may terminate contracts without penalty if salaries remain unpaid for two consecutive months.To do so, the player must:

  1. Send a written notice to the club.

  2. Set a minimum 15-day deadline for payment.

  3. If the deadline passes without resolution, the player gains “just cause” for termination.

This process protects players while ensuring that clubs respect contractual obligations.


For Players

  • May terminate the contract without penalty after two months of unpaid wages.

  • Can claim compensation through FIFA’s Football Tribunal.

  • May apply for financial assistance through the FIFA Fund for Football Players (FFP) once all legal avenues are exhausted.


For Clubs

  • Failure to pay within 30 days can result in transfer bans, fines, and point deductions.

  • Clubs must comply with FIFA’s financial regulations and ethical standards regarding player salaries.


The FIFA Fund for Football Players (FFP)

When all other remedies fail, players may apply to the FIFA Fund for Football Players, established in partnership with FIFPRO.This fund provides financial assistance to players whose clubs have become insolvent or chronically defaulted on payments.

Applications must include:

  • Proof of contract and payment history.

  • Evidence of all previous legal steps taken.

  • Documentation of the club’s insolvency or failure to pay.

A well-prepared submission increases the chances of approval, with responses typically issued within a few weeks.



Recent Cases

  • Sheffield Wednesday – Faced a transfer embargo after delayed salary payments.

  • Deportivo Pereira – Players went on strike following eight months of unpaid wages.

  • UTA Arad (Romania) – Players filed FIFA cases after repeated breaches and unpaid contracts.

These cases highlight that FIFA mechanisms are increasingly effective in enforcing financial discipline across clubs globally.



Conclusion

Delayed or unpaid wages remain one of football’s most pressing issues.Thanks to procedures under Articles 12bis and 14bis, and the FIFA Fund for Football Players, players now have multiple, enforceable avenues to claim what they are rightfully owed.

At Forefront Legal, we specialize in sports law and dispute resolution, assisting players and agents in navigating FIFA regulations and recovering unpaid wages quickly and effectively.



References

  • FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (2025)

  • FIFA Disciplinary Committee Reports (2018–2025)

  • FIFA Fund for Football Players – FIFPRO Collaboration Reports

  • LexSportiva Blog: Monetary Claims before FIFA (2019)

  • Asser Institute: Overdue Payables in Action (Weger & Vrolijk)

  • Reuters (2024): FIFA to Open Dialogue on Transfer Rules after EU Verdict

 
 
 

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