The Press — In 1994, when the transition to non-amateurism occurred, Ligue 1 and 2 clubs were required to have a minimum of 16 players under contract in their senior team rosters. This accompanying measure to smoothly transition from amateurism to professionalism did not last long, with the obligation made to clubs to only have players with professional contracts participate in the Senior Leagues 1 and 2 championships.
Thus, all players belonging to a club competing in the Ligue 1 and 2 championships had to sign a professional player contract with their clubs. What are the types of contracts allowed to be registered as a professional player? There are three: full-time professional player, part-time professional player (semi-professional), and trainee player. A full-time professional player is one who "makes football their profession and does not exercise any other profession." A part-time professional player or semi-professional is a player who "is still a student or exercises another profession other than football."
"A trainee player is one who is still young and in a training period, aged 16 to 21 years." Over time, with the evolution of professional football, the majority of contracts concluded between clubs and players are full-time, especially in Ligue 1. The number of part-time and trainee contracts has decreased significantly, particularly in Ligue 1 clubs. What is the minimum duration of a contract concluded between a club and a player? For any player aged between eighteen (18) and twenty-five (25) who signs their first professional player contract, the contract period is set to "five (5) seasons, and clauses providing a date beyond this are not recognized or validated."
The duration of the first contract of a full-time or part-time professional player aged over twenty-five (25) "can be from one (1) to five (5) seasons at most." The contract duration of a professional player under eighteen (18) years "cannot exceed three (3) seasons." The duration of the second contract of a Tunisian professional player, regardless of age, is set to a minimum of one (1) season and a maximum of five (5) seasons. What is the future of a player who has reached senior age and to whom the club has not offered a professional contract between June 15th and July 15th? The player becomes a free agent from July 16th and can choose the club of their choice. If they sign with a new club as a professional, their former club(s) will be entitled to a training premium. However, no training premium is due if the player signs as an amateur with a club competing in the amateur championship. What are the important clauses to specify in the contract between the club and the player? A monthly gross salary in Tunisian dinars and a performance bonus conforming to established remuneration ceilings, with a total mass of player salaries and performance bonuses "not exceeding 60% of the average global revenue of the club mentioned in the last audited and certified financial report by auditors."
Other optional benefits can also be mentioned in the contract, such as housing and transportation allowances, as well as the amount of a release clause in case the player decides to unilaterally terminate or buy out the remaining years of their contract. The release clause indemnity must not be less than the total remuneration (salaries, performance bonuses, and other benefits) received by the player during the season to be bought out.
It can be paid directly by the player to the club or, in case of refusal, deposited with the FTF. In what cases can a contract be terminated by one or both parties without payment of indemnity or sporting sanction? In the case of a withdrawal by the FTF of the player's license due to a prison sentence of more than six (06) months. In the case of a player's expulsion pronounced by the FTF or by the club and validated by the FTF. In the case of a player's suspension by the FTF, FIFA, CAF, UNAF, or UAF equal to or exceeding one year or beyond the contract expiration date.
Also, in the case of permanent physical unfitness to practice football established by the FTF's Medical-Sports Center or by a national or regional sports medicine center. When can a mutual and amicable termination of a contract be made without prejudice or damage to both parties? At any time during the season. However, the termination act cannot be sent to the Professional Football League for homologation except during the two registration periods set each season (July 1st to September 20th, 2025, for the first period and January 2nd to 31st, 2026, for the second period).
Thus, players who have mutually terminated their contract after September 20th must wait until January 2nd to sign a new contract with another club or opt for the status of free amateur with a club competing in the amateur championship.
