Players in Qatar to benefit from rule change that will improve freedom of movement

• The previous regulation, known as the ‘40 times salary’ rule in Qatar, limited compensation for players in cases of unjust contract termination to a maximum of 40 times their monthly wage
  
  
• The decision was taken jointly by the Qatar Players Association, the Qatar Football Association and the Qatar Stars League, who all work collaboratively on the country’s player affairs committee
  
  
• FIFPRO spoke with QPA’s Operations Manager Samar Al-Attar to understand more about what this means for players in Qatar

Footballers in Qatar from next season will benefit from a rule change that is set to improve their freedom of movement.

The decision was taken jointly by the Qatar Players Association (QPA), the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Qatar Stars League (QSL), who all work collaboratively on the country’s player affairs committee.

The previous regulation, known as the ‘40 times salary’ rule in Qatar, limited compensation for players in cases of unjust contract termination to a maximum of 40 times their monthly wage – often disadvantaging lower-paid players and restricting them from transferring freely between clubs.

FIFPRO spoke with QPA’s Operations Manager Samar Al-Attar to understand more about what this means for players in Qatar, their reaction to the ruling, and how the union’s pension fund is helping prepare players for life after football.

FIFPRO: What has the reaction of players in Qatar been to this rule being removed?

Samar Al-Attar: The players are happy; we’ve had a lot of positive feedback from them. Workshops, done in coordination with the union and the QSL, have recently taken place to help players further understand what this rule means for them and that they know their rights around it.

The ‘40 times’ rule was out of FIFA standards. Now, this will give players more freedom to transfer between clubs and also means they will receive fair compensation in case they have their contract terminated without just cause. It’s going to be a case-by-case basis, so the compensation could be even higher than what they should be owed.

How did the union solve this with the league and federation?

The QPA is part of the player affairs committee at the QFA, meaning we have a voice and a seat at the decision-making table. This rule was something we often brought up. There was a misconception in Qatar before regarding players transferring clubs, but it became clear to everyone how this rule was unfair towards players and was thus removed. I would say all football stakeholders in Qatar have a genuine care about the players and their rights, so we as the union are fortunate in that regard.

How significant is it that players in Qatar have that voice at the decision-making table?

Having spoken to other member unions, we know that not everyone has a seat on the committee and we believe it helps us to be actively involved in the decision-making process with stakeholders. Being involved in the player affairs committee also means we can work collaboratively with clubs on behalf of the players to help solve other issues that arise.

Players approach us with their concerns – our consultations are free to all members, of course – and they trust us to raise those issues on their behalf and work together with the league and QFA to solve them via the committee. Having the trust of the players is a big achievement for us.

Do you feel Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup left a positive legacy with regards to these sorts of decisions being made to help Qatari-based players?

I think it did from many directions. It opened so many channels with foreign leagues, foreign football associations, and we understand better how the game works outside of the region because of it.

Can you tell us about the union’s player reward fund?

As players in Qatar don’t get a pension from the government, we created this fund for them. Players can choose to receive it when they retire, to help them prepare for life after football, or even during their career if they are encountering financial issues. The fund covers all of our members, so over 500 players.