GFA introduces salary cap for Intermediate League

Following on from the introduction of the new Intermediate League, commencing next season (2018/19), the Gibraltar Football Association has this weekend confirmed that the Intermediate League will be subjected to a salary cap.

In a statement issued on Friday a spokesperson said "The salary cap applies to clubs competing in the Intermediate League and will be set at a maximum £30,000, per team, per season, inclusive of bonuses and other monetary benefits in kind."

"The salary cap will be audited by the GFA upon completion of the registration period. Clubs will have to provide the necessary required documentation in relation to the cap and any club breaches the salary cap will not be allowed to compete in the Intermediate league."

"The primary aim of the Intermediate League is to develop local talent, and therefore the GFA firmly believes that player salaries should not become an obstruction to clubs with genuine intentions of player development."

"Additionally the GFA is looking at implementing salary caps for senior football as from 2019/2020 and further information on this will be revealed in due course."

The salary cap comes at a time when the GFA is understood to also be looking at proposals to stop a growing trend which has led Gibraltar's football clubs to fall below expected standards on financial fair play implemented by UEFA.

Gibraltar football league has been recorded in recent UEFA financial reports as having the most clubs who spend above their income, something which has led to some concern and proposals to curb the trend.

Clubs are, however, understood to have opposed initial suggestion of a cap on players’ wages in the senior leagues.

The salary cap introduced for the intermediate league is seen as a first step towards future tightening on financial aspects of club expenditures to meet UEFA standards on financial fair play, which restricts clubs from overspending above their incomes.