It’s a scenario no one wants to contemplate: a team suddenly withdraws from the league, players are left without contracts, and the season ends sooner than planned. While these incidents are rare, when they do happen, they cause significant controversy. 

What does a club’s withdrawal from the competition look like?

The decision to withdraw a team isn’t just a media announcement. It’s an official act that means the club will no longer participate in the current competition. According to §19 of Resolution No. IX/140 of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), the consequences are severe; up to two league divisions may relegate the club, and its match results will either be nullified or upheld, depending on how many matches it has played.

Simply put, if a team has played less than half the season, all matches are forfeited. If they have played more, the opponents keep their points, and the remaining matches are considered forfeits. 

What happens to a player when the club disappears?

In Poland, the situation of players following a team’s withdrawal is clearly regulated. According to Resolution No. I/10 of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) regarding specific rules for confirming and authorizing players to play in the event of a club’s withdrawal from the competition:

• Amateur players automatically gain the status of a “free agent” and can move to a new club at any time without waiting for the transfer window.
• Professional players have the right to unilaterally terminate their contracts by submitting a written declaration. From that moment on, they are free to sign with a new club, even mid-season.
• Players on loan return to their parent clubs, which decide their future.

Importantly, contract termination does not deprive the player of the right to back pay. If the club fails to pay the outstanding wages, the player may pursue claims before a common court of competent jurisdiction or the Polish Football Association’s Court of Arbitration. Furthermore, the club has no right to require the player to waive these claims.

History of FC Skra Ladies Częstochowa

During the 2024/2025 season, the women’s team, FC Skra Ladies Częstochowa, unexpectedly withdrew from the Orlen Women’s Ekstraliga. The cause was increasing financial difficulties. 
The players hadn’t received their salaries for months, and some had even been forced to leave their apartments rented by the club. When the decision to withdraw was made, all spring matches were canceled, and previous results stood, since the team had played more than half the season.

For female footballers, this meant the end of their seasons and a sense of uncertainty. Thanks to Polish Football Association (PZPN) regulations, however, they could unilaterally terminate their contracts and immediately seek new clubs, even outside the transfer window. This event became a symbol of sports law’s ability to protect female players when their clubs fail effectively.

International dimension – what does FIFA say?

In principle, in accordance with FIFA regulations (also confirmed in PZPN resolutions), FIFA provides similar solutions globally. According to the Player Status and Transfer Regulations (FIFA RSTP), in the event a club withdraws from a competition, the player:

• can unilaterally resolve the contract due to the club’s fault, with no financial consequences,
• can be registered immediately with a new club, even outside the transfer window,
• and if the club is in arrears with payments, it has the right to claim the debt before the FIFA Football Tribunal, which replaced the former Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC).

FIFA’s decisions are international in nature, meaning arrears can be enforced through transfer bans or the seizure of club assets in other countries. 
This FIFA system has one primary goal: to protect the player, not the institution.

FC Dalian Pro worldwide example

The case of FC Dalian Pro in China in 2023 perfectly illustrates the dramatic consequences of a club’s withdrawal from the competition. The Chinese Super League team announced its sudden withdrawal due to serious financial and corruption problems. The club was in debt, failing to pay wages, and local authorities deemed it unable to ensure basic organizational stability.

For players, this meant immediate unemployment and uncertainty about their future. Many did not receive their outstanding wages and initiated proceedings before FIFA bodies and national arbitration courts, demanding compensation for unpaid wages and for contract termination due to the club’s fault. Under FIFA regulations, players could unilaterally terminate their contracts and become free agents, though some had difficulty finding a new club outside the transfer window.

Summary

The case of FC Dalian Pro in China in 2023 perfectly illustrates the dramatic consequences of a club’s withdrawal from the competition. The Chinese Super League team announced its sudden withdrawal due to serious financial and corruption problems. The club was in debt, failing to pay wages, and local authorities deemed it unable to ensure basic organizational stability.

For players, this meant immediate unemployment and uncertainty about their future. Many did not receive their outstanding wages and initiated proceedings before FIFA bodies and national arbitration courts, demanding compensation for unpaid wages and for contract termination due to the club’s fault. Under FIFA regulations, players could unilaterally terminate their contracts and become free agents, though some had difficulty finding a new club outside the transfer window.

Sources:

1. Polish Football Association (PZPN). (2008, as amended in 2024). Resolution No. IX/140 of the PZPN Management Board of 3 and 7 July 2008 on the organization of football competitions (as amended on 20 May 2024). Warsaw: PZPN [in Polish: Uchwała nr IX/140 Zarządu PZPN z dnia 3 i 7 lipca 2008 r. w sprawie organizacji rozgrywek w piłkę nożną (ze zmianami z dnia 20 maja 2024 r.)].
2. Polish Football Association (PZPN). (2018). Resolution No. I/10 of the PZPN Management Board of 28 January 2018 on special rules for confirming and authorizing players to play in the event of a club’s team withdrawing from football competitions. Warsaw: PZPN [in Polish: Uchwała Zarządu PZPN nr I/10 z dnia 28 stycznia 2018 r. w sprawie szczególnych zasad potwierdzania i uprawniania zawodników do gry w przypadku wycofania drużyny klubu z rozgrywek piłkarskic]. 
3. Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). (2023). Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (FIFA RSTP).