Manchester United says FIFA transfer plans will hit clubs and fans

Manchester United PLC chief executive Peter Kenyon warned that FIFA's plans to reform the transfer system will harm both clubs and supporters.

The proposal from football's world governing body to allow players to quit contracts with three months' notice will harm small clubs in particular, he said here during a promotion for Manchester United's July Asian tour.

"Smaller clubs rely on transfer fees for up to 80% of their revenue," he said. "It's a really serious issue."

FIFA developed the proposal following EU complaints that the transfer system interfered with the free movement of labour under the EU's single market system.

But Kenyon said the opinion of teams and fans should also be considered.

"From a fans point of view ... a fan not only follows a club, but he also follows a player, and he will not know from one week to the next if the player is going to be there or not."

Arguing that "what we have in the transfer system is fundamentally good for the game," Kenyon said the FIFA plan "has a long way to go" if it is to see the light of day.

Manchester United are to play in Singapore on July 24 as part of a three-nation Asian tour which also takes in Malaysia and Thailand.

At a press briefing it was announced Manchester United will be playing for the Courts Cup in Singapore, named after the furniture retailer (Courts Furniture PLC) sponsoring the match, but the opposition had not been decided.