A few weeks before the kick-off of the 2025-2026 season, the Senegalese Professional Football League (LSFP) has published an information note to remind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs of the regulatory provisions relating to the approval of contracts of players returning from abroad.

In the note, the LSFP particularly emphasizes cases concerning players who have played abroad and who wish to sign with a local club. Several points of the administrative regulations and the FIFA Player Status were highlighted.

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Penalties for false declarations

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Article 64 of the LSFP administrative regulations stipulates that any club or manager who has voluntarily concealed information or provided false data in order to obtain the approval of a contract is liable to sanctions decided by the League office.

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Multiplication of contracts: a risk of suspension

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Article 69 specifies that a player signing with multiple clubs can be suspended for up to five years. The clubs concerned and their managers are also subject to the same sanction.

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The LSFP also recalled FIFA's provisions, in particular Article 2 of Annex 3 of the Player's Status. According to this text, the registration of a professional player coming from abroad must be accompanied by an application for an International Transfer Certificate (ITC). This document, essential to validate the player's commitment, must be issued by the former federation and transmitted to the new association before the player plays an official match.

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Until the ITC is received, no player may play competitively with his new club. In the event of a dispute over the termination of the contract or its expiration date, the procedure requires confirmation between the player, his former club, and his previous federation.

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With this clarification, the LSFP intends to prevent potential transfer disputes and ensure strict compliance with contract rules. This is a strong signal to clubs ahead of what promises to be a competitive season.