Finn Harps to fight FIFA-imposed transfer ban over training compensation claim

A dispute over the payment of a training compensation has left Finn Harps temporarily prohibited from registering new players due to a sanction imposed by FIFA.

At the moment, Finn Harps cannot sign players anyway as the transfer window is closed and the club, therefore, has until July 1 to address the matter. 

Harps believe that they are dealing with a “technicality” surrounding a transfer that is understood to have taken place three years ago.

It is believed that the transfer occurred between a club not under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Ireland and Harps, thereby having the matter dealt with as an “international transfer”.

Harps are said to be insistent that no compensation is due on their part - and have filed notice of their position on the FIFA system.

However, they were added to the FIFA Registration Ban List recently and are being assisted by the FAI on the matter.

The sum being claimed has been described by a Harps source as “not insignificant”.

FIFA Clearing House acts as an intermediary in payments relating to training rewards (solidarity mechanism and training compensation) and ensures that payments by new clubs are correctly distributed to training clubs. It aims to improve the transfer systems and associated payments in football. 

The payments are based on the final electronic player passport and allocation statement approved by the FIFA administration.

Read next: Matthew McCole blasts way into National Elite Competition final in Belfast

Domestic compensation, for example to clubs in the Donegal Underage League, are much lower than those that could be due for an international transfer.