The Statute of the Polish Football Association (hereinafter referred to as the " PZPN Statute " or the " Statute ") specifies in Article 69 § 1 two statuses of an athlete practicing football. Such an athlete may have the status of an amateur or a professional player. The status of a professional footballer, in accordance with § 2 of the aforementioned provision, is determined by the PZPN Management Board after prior consultation with the professional league to which the player's club belongs.
A professional player – in accordance with Article 71 of the PZPN Statute – is a football player who has a written contract with the club or receives remuneration or other monetary or material benefits from the club despite not having signed a contract with it.
The status of amateurs is regulated by Article 70 of the Polish Football Association's Statute. This refers to players who receive only reimbursement of expenses incurred for travel and accommodation costs incurred during matches, as well as the costs of purchasing football equipment, training, and insurance.
In simple terms, according to the Polish Football Association's statute, the sole criterion distinguishing an amateur from a professional is financial. A professional is any player whose remuneration paid by the club for playing football exceeds the player's necessary expenses.
The Polish Football Association's statute does not specify the form in which a contract with a player must be concluded. It can be either an employment contract or another civil law agreement. This is significant because only in the case of an employment contract with a footballer will the Polish Labor Code apply to the parties.
There is also a form of quasi-contract, which is currently regulated by Resolution No. III/54 of 27 March 2015 of the Management Board of the Polish Football Association (hereinafter referred to as the " Resolution "), referred to as the U18 Contract.
This is a contract between a club and a player who, on the date the contract is concluded, is over 15 years of age but under 18. Pursuant to Article 13 of the aforementioned Resolution, such a contract may only be concluded with the consent of the player's legal representatives and for a period of no longer than three years. The minimum gross monthly salary for such a player must be at least PLN 500.
