Changing clubs without consent: how does an administrative transfer work?

When do you qualify?

An administrative transfer can be granted on the basis of special circumstances. The regulations mention, among others:

• social circumstances;
• the player moving house;
• the club being inactive;
• the player being surplus to the squad.

How do you apply?

• You and the club you want to join submit an application together on the federation's digital platform. This is possible all year round, except in June.
• Your current club is notified and can object within 7 days. It cannot object if it is suspended from sporting activity, or if you are a senior player and its first team has withdrawn from the league (general forfeit).
• If your club objects, you and your club are summoned before the federation's competent body.
• The transfer takes effect on the date of the application if no objection is possible, when the objection period expires if no objection was made, or on the final decision if the objection is rejected.

What are the consequences?

• The transfer is temporary and runs until the end of the season.
• In competitive football you may not play official matches for your new club's first team. You can play for the reserves, youth teams and veterans.
• Exception: you may play for the first team if your old club's highest-ranked first team is fully or largely inactive, has withdrawn from the league, is suspended or has to play in a reserve league.
• Women players may play for a first team in the provincial divisions from 1 January, if the transfer is fully completed by 1 February.

If you want to leave for good after the season, use your right to resign between 1 and 30 April.

Stopping as a player: the permanent administrative transfer

Stopping as a player but want to work as a coach or volunteer at another club, for example? You can get a permanent administrative transfer as a non-playing member at any time of the year.

If you want to play again later, you need the written consent of the club you left at the time. If you hand it to the RBFA between 15 June and 31 August, you can play in all of your new club's matches straight away. After 31 August you can only play for the first team from the following season.