Football Australia, Australian Professional Leagues (APL), and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) have announced a joint commitment to review and phase out the commonly referred to 'Caceres Clause' ahead of the 2025/26 A-Leagues Season.
This review is part of a broader commitment by the three organisations to examine the professional game's economic model holistically.
- Football Australia, APL and PFA agree to phase out the Clause in two stages
- Second stage will involve triparted analysis of the broader professional game's economic model including assessing the efficacy of the salary cap against its stated objectives and exploring the potential of transfer fee payments between A-League Clubs
- Assessment will take place through the A-Leagues Professional Football Committees within the APL and PFA Collective Bargaining Agreement, with Football Australia invited to join in its capacity as regulator
The Clause
Football Australia's National Registration, Status and Transfer Regulations currently outline that no transfers are permitted between A-League Clubs and that no 'transfer fee' can be requested, offered or paid between such Clubs.
The Clause, introduced in 2016, prohibits the registration of a player to an A-League Club if a club within the same club ownership group purchases a player from another A-League Club and attempts to transfer/loan such player to their related A-League Club.
Outdated Clause in a Changing Economic Landscape
Football Australia, APL, and PFA have identified that the Clause is outdated and is no longer fit for purpose given the evolution of the Australian football landscape and the broader globalisation of the football economy.
Since the introduction of the clause, the A-League has seen increased investment in A-League Clubs by international football club ownership groups; A-League Clubs have become more sophisticated; the value of A-League players on the global market has increased, increasing interest in players moving between A-League Clubs; and longer A-League player contract terms.
Additionally, as a result of a policy change in December 2020, transfers fees involving National Premier League Clubs and Community Clubs are now permitted including where such a transfer involves a player moving to or from an A-League Club.
Phase Out Plan
In recognition of these changes, FA, APL, and PFA have all committed to phasing out the Clause prior to the first registration window ahead of the 2025/26 A-Leagues Season.
This phased approach will operate in two stages where, effective immediately, the Clause will be amended to allow such transfers involving clubs with common ownership but implementing "guardrails" by limiting the number of multi-club transfers/loans to two such players on loan at any one time (similar to existing FIFA loan prohibitions).
The second stage will focus on enhancing the broader A-Leagues' economic model including assessing the efficacy of the salary cap against its stated objectives and exploring the potential benefits of transfer fee payments between A-League Clubs.
The changes will be considered in the Professional Football Committees that are already in place within the APL and PFA Collective Bargaining Agreement with FA invited to join in its capacity as regulator.
About the A-Leagues Professional Football Committee
The Professional Men's and Women's Football Committees review the A-Leagues by regularly assessing key strategic matters including commercial, broadcast, and high-performance areas and the A-Leagues' economic model. The Committees include representation from the APL, clubs and players.
