FAI welcomes FIFA decision to change three-club rule

After intensive lobbying by the Football Association of Ireland, soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, has changed the rule in relation to players playing for three clubs in a 12-month period.

Last year the FAI brought to the attention of FIFA the anomaly within Article 5 of its rules relating to the registration of players. The FAI pointed out that the rule, which operated from July 1 to June 30, did not facilitate countries whose season was during the summer and, at the time, successfully obtained clearance to play for eight eircom League of Ireland players who had signed for new clubs at the beginning of the 2007 season.