A TRIBUNAL is needed when a player under the age of 24 moves clubs at the end of his contract and the two clubs involved are unable to agree a fee between themselves.

In that case the clubs go to a Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) hearing, with a panel of four or five people sitting to hear evidence from both clubs.

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The panel will consist of people from within the game who have either legal backgrounds or experience in handling transfers and contracts. There will be an independent chairman, who will be approved by the Premier League, the Football League and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA).

They will then be A representative of each of the leagues are involved, so in this case the Premier League and the Football League, as well as an appointee of the PFA and the League Managers’ Association. The panel will then consider several factors before reaching their decision over a fee.

These include the status of the two clubs, the age of the player, the fee the club losing the player paid for him and the length of time he spent at that club.

They will also consider training and development costs for that player, the wages terms of contracts offered to the player by both clubs and his playing record.

Finally interest from other clubs is also considered before a final decision is made. The fee will usually includes a upfront sum with the rest dependent on certain criteria being met, such as league appearances, goals or international caps.

Once the tribunal has set a fee neither side has the right of appeal.