Yesterday, on 16th October, the board of the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) has approved amendments to club licensing regulations and to the regulations on player status and transfers. The meeting also included a conceptual discussion on the planned expansion of the Baltic Youth Football League (BYFL).
Stricter transparency and integrity requirements
The updated Club Licensing Regulations introduce stricter rules regarding beneficial ownership and relationships between clubs. Clubs will now be required to provide documentary proof of their beneficial owners, regardless of the information available in public registers. The LFF will have the right to request additional documentation and impose sanctions if unauthorised influence between clubs is detected or competition integrity is compromised.
Licensing applicants for UEFA and LFF-A licences must also submit consolidated financial statements covering all legal entities within their licensing scope. LFF officials are required to report if any club representative performs unlisted roles not declared in the COMET system or licensing documentation, and a procedure has been established for reviewing such cases.
To promote the development of women’s football, new requirements have been added for Women’s League clubs, specifically regarding youth teams and qualified personnel. All licensing documents and processes will now be managed digitally through the LFF COMET system.
Updated rules on player contracts and loans
Amendments to the Regulations on Player Status and Transfers clarify the registration of professional contracts, now allowing part-time or hourly employment agreements under specific restrictions on workload, duration, and remuneration.
The revised rules also prohibit the inclusion of clauses in loan contracts—directly or indirectly—that prevent a player from playing against their parent club. Clubs are further barred from using affiliated entities or third parties to artificially increase the number of loaned players.
In cases where a contractual dispute exists between a player and a club, such disputes will no longer automatically block a player’s transfer. These cases will be reviewed by the LFF Player Status and Transfer Committee, in line with the principles of FIFA’s updated regulations. Compensation liability for a new club will apply only if it can be proven that the club actively encouraged the player to breach their existing contract.
Plans for Baltic Youth Football League expansion
After evaluating the first four BYFL seasons, the football federations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are now working to secure the necessary resources to expand the competition and add at least one new age group.
The league began in 2022 with U-15 teams from the three Baltic states, and a U-16 division was introduced the following season. Starting from the next campaign, organisers plan to include the U-14 age group, while continuing work to integrate a U-17/U-18 division, taking into account player workload, sporting balance, and available resources.
Other decisions
The LFF board also approved changes to the LFF Veterans and Masters Committee, appointing Jānis Mežeckis as its new chairman, replacing Dainis Gudermanis. The board reviewed updates on the LFF budget execution as of September 30, 2025, and on the activities of regional referee coordinators.
Source: https://lff.lv/zinas/18569/apstiprinati-grozijumi-klubu-licencesanas-un-speletaju-statusa-un-pareju-noteikumos/
