Euro Club Transfer Changes Discussed

   The future of the football transfer system in Europe is being discussed in Brussels. Officials from the European Commission are meeting the presidents of football’s European and world governing bodies. Both parties now accept that the present system does breach a new law.

   Take Portuguese striker Louis Figo, for example. Real Madrid broke the transfer market record when they paid Barcelona ￡38 million to buy their star striker. According to the European Commission, no such transfers are illegal because they contravene labor laws. UEFA and FIFA officials meeting in Brussels today are trying desperately to thrash out a new system of contracts to suit both clubs and players.

   Neither side seems to be able to agree on a solution. Players want a system which allows them to move more freely with shorter notice periods and in which wagers are a key feature. But clubs who vied to pay a fortune for their footballing assets or who brought them on as youngsters disagree. They want their players to honor their contracts. They’re also suggesting a compromise: no transfer fees only after the players reach the age of 24. Both sides acknowledge changes are needed to bring the game’s employment rules into the 21st century. But if today’s meeting is the equivalent of the first half, this battle is likely to go to extra time, then penalties, before it’s resolved.

   John McIntire, BBC News

难点注释：

transfer system: 转会制度                  

breach: 破坏，违反

striker: 足球前锋                             

contravene: 违反，抵触

wagers: 打赌，竞价                         

compromise: 妥协，折衷

equivalent: 相等物，等价物

参考译文：

    欧洲未来的足球转会制度现正在布鲁塞斯讨论当中。来自欧洲委员会的官员们正和欧洲以及国际管理团体的理事们举行会议。现在双方都承认现行制度确实违反了新法规。

    以葡萄牙前锋菲戈为例，皇家马德里以破纪录的三千八万英镑去买这名巴塞罗那的著名前锋。根据欧洲委员会，这种转会是非法的，因为它们与劳动法相抵触。在布鲁塞斯会议上，欧足联和国际足联官员们今天正努力研究一种新的合同制度以使俱乐部和球员双方都满意。

    但是似乎双方无法达成共识。球员需要一种允许他们转会更自由、以竞价为主要特征的挂牌期更短一些的制度。但那些为争夺自己的足球赚钱工具而出价不菲或训练年青球员的俱乐部则不同意。他们需要自己的球员履行已签订的合同。他们也提出一种妥协的方法：球员在24岁之前没有转会费。双方都承认需要修改转会制度，把雇佣的游戏规则带入到21世纪。但如果今天的会议相当于足球比赛上半场的话，这场争执可能会进入加时赛，并且在解决问题之前可能加罚点球。

    英国广播公司记者约翰·麦金太尔