Finn Harps clear transfer ban, face further FIFA compensation battle

A temporary FIFA transfer embargo on Finn Harps has been lifted despite lingering complications around historic training compensation cases.

Harps’ name reappeared on the FIFA Registration Ban List recent again having initially been on the list last summer. 

The matter relates to training compensation due over three transfers that took place almost four years ago now. The payments, totalling €90,000 were ordered by FIFA, although in two cases Harps have agreements with other clubs to recoup the money.

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

The latest transfer embargo on Harps was lifted this week, which means that the club is now free to confirm new additions. Kevin McHugh has made around half-a-dozen signings to bolster his squad ahead of the February 13 First Division opener at Athlone Town.

The latest problem arose following the lodgement of a challenge to one of the payments with the player in question having subsequently been made redundant by a club in Northern Ireland.

Harps were then informed that they were outside of the window to challenge it and were handed a fine. A transfer ban was put in place until the fine was discharged.

The Football Association of Ireland was informed by FIFA of the imposition of the fine and the transfer ban on December 19, but as Abbotstown officials were knocking off for the Christmas period that day the information wasn’t passed onto Harps until the New Year.

“It was a small enough fee and we paid it last week,” Finn Harps Chairman Ian Harkin said. 

Harps are understood to be challenging one of the payments imposed as the player was made redundant. The club is considering its options legally as club officials believe they should not be liable.

They could yet have to go down a legal route in an attempt to make their case, however, as the football system does not allow for such contests outside of windows set down by the governing bodies.

One of other the compensation claims is closed, but the process of Harps recouping the money is also fraught by delays. 

The club receiving the money from FIFA has agreed to return the money to Harps, but as of now they have not been given the funds.

Harps will also have to pay the other compensation fee, but are also believed to have an agreement with the other club in that matter to recoup the funds. 

Harps have endured some difficulties with FIFA’s convoluted registration system. Last August, Harps began a registration process with FIFA Clearing House - which acts as an intermediary in payments relating to training rewards - and while that was set up in September, the entire process changed in October.

“Everything that was loaded was lost as they changed their IT system and we had to start the process over again,” Harkin said.

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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. 

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