The soccer players' union began legal action yesterday, opposing the agreement between FIFA and the European Union to overhaul the sport's transfer system. The deal between the soccer authorities and the 15-nation EU was reached March 5 in what is considered the biggest change in soccer since the 1995 free agency ruling. The Fifpro union pulled out of the talks during the closing stages, seeking fewer restrictions on players. Yesterday, the union filed a complaint with a local court, protesting key parts of the agreement. The agreement calls for three-year commitments to teams for players under 28 with multiyear contracts.
Players face suspensions of up to six months if they break their deals.
Once past 28, players must honor long-term contracts for at least two years. The agreement sets a minimum and maximum duration of contracts at one and five years, calls for one transfer period a season when players can change teams, mechanisms to protect poorer clubs and payment for youth training and the creation of an arbitration body. The EU's executive commission has said the deal would withstand any challenge from the union. Ferguson, who guided the team to seven English league titles, is stepping down as manager in May 2002 following what will be his 14th full season with the English champion. He had been negotiating a new role with the club, but those talks broke down, the person said, without explaining why.