Brno, 14 August 2025 — The Czech Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) has concluded that the current rules on transfer compensation for young ice hockey players — the so-called “table severance pay” — do not breach competition law.
The review was triggered by a complaint about the system, under which the receiving club pays the player’s original club an amount set by a standard table. The rules apply to non-professional youth players whose sporting activities are largely funded by their parents, but allow clubs to negotiate lower fees or waive them entirely.
After surveying dozens of Czech hockey clubs and consulting other European competition authorities, the ÚOHS found that the mechanism is compatible with competition law, provided the fees reflect actual training costs and remain proportionate. The authority noted that the fee levels have not increased in 12 years, are adjusted for the player’s age, training quality, and league level, and do not generally exceed the average cost of training.
Most youth transfers in the last three seasons — “the vast majority”, according to the Office — took place without any payment at all. The ÚOHS said it saw no grounds to open proceedings but offered the Czech Ice Hockey Association a consultation if future adjustments are considered.
The authority stressed that the current system does not impose an unreasonable burden and supports youth participation in sport. It contrasted the case with a past finding that the Football Association of the Czech Republic’s rules on free-agent transfers for professional players were problematic under competition law — an issue resolved after the FAČR changed its rules.
While the impact of transfer systems on competition is generally higher in professional leagues, the Office reiterated that sports governance can fall under competition rules and cited past cases involving football broadcasting rights, ice hockey league closures, and stadium approvals.
