Transfers before end of season

Transfers before end of season

To the best of my knowledge, having players sign and publicly commit to other clubs BEFORE the current season is finished is unique to the A-League.

No you are wrong.

Look at the Bosman ruling all over the world, clubs can approach players who are within the last 6 months of their contract and get their sig just like this.

Some league, Premiership for example, clubs cannot approach players from another club within the Prem within (I think its) 6 weeks of expiry, but clubs from abroad etc can still approach them 6 months prior.

For example, if C Ronaldo's contract was expiring 31st December, Real Madrid could approach him at the end of June.  He could sign say 1st July but wouldn't leave United till 1st January...so it's not just here..

OK, thanks for the explanation, but I guess I'm wondering if any of those situations you allude to are made so public before the season has ended?

I guess it comes down to the teams and players on an individual basis, maybe Smeltz wanted it public to remove pressure from him?  Maybe it may be so the fans can give him a final farewell?  Maybe it would have been better kept quiet, who knows, I guess they should take it on a case by case basis, I cannot give an answer here 

Yeah id say in this case,the fact he'd signed at leaked out into the media. So smeltz would have felt pressure and probably felt it best to get it out in the open.

NRL does it too.

But your point still holds - it's ridiculous.