Uruguayan union reaches historic agreement on image rights for benefit of players

• After several years of struggle, the Mutual Uruguayan Professional Footballers’ Association (MUFP) has signed an agreement to receive four percent of the new Uruguayan football TV contract for image rights

• This amounts to $2.5 million per year until 2029

• The funds will generate benefits such as equitable distribution among players and the creation of a retirement fund

Almost 10 years of sustained effort paid off last March, when the MUFP’s Extraordinary General Assembly unanimously approved a historic agreement for the country’s football: men’s and women’s players will receive financial compensation for the exploitation of their image rights.

At the end of 2025, the television rights contract for Uruguayan football expired. The negotiation of a new deal, involving new stakeholders and an open tender process, enabled the MUFP to secure an agreement with the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) to receive 4 percent of the new TV contract.

In financial terms, that percentage translates into $2.5 million per year until 2029. It is a sum that will unlock benefits previously unimaginable for the Uruguayan football community.

“Uruguayan football went from $17 million to $67 million,” says MUFP Secretary General Mitchell Duarte, explaining how the union played a key role in securing the new deal after 10 years of monopoly by a company that retained almost 80 percent of the profits.

“We first pushed for a modification to the AUF statutes to include player participation, and then we proposed an open tender where any company could bid publicly.

“The tender was achieved, the figures we had long been pushing for materialised, and that put us in a strong position to negotiate image rights. In other words, all commercialisation of audiovisual rights must now include an agreement with the players and compensation that reflects the value of the product. There is now recognition of a right that belongs to us.”

The increase in the value of Uruguayan football has been significant. According to Duarte, “first division clubs now earn four times more, while second division clubs earn five times more”.

“The importance of this agreement is not only economic. It ensures we are part of the business, allows us to audit contracts and access key information. It is also symbolically important, as we now have a seat at the decision-making table in Uruguayan football.”

Annual distribution

Of the $10 million the MUFP will receive over the next four years, 50 percent will be distributed annually among players.

Using a proprietary scoring system based on the number of months each player is under contract during the year, the union will allocate a lump sum proportional to each player’s contract length. This will be additional to their salary and bonuses from their club.

“There are players who, with a 12-month contract, will receive more from this annual distribution than from their salary,” Duarte explains.

Retirement fund

Another key development is the introduction of a retirement fund for players who completed their final year of professional activity in 2025. A total of 25 percent of the income from the new contract will be allocated to this fund, which will be overseen by a three-person internal audit commission.

It is expected that around 35 players per year will benefit from this support upon retirement.

“In 2026, those who finished their contracts in 2025 will receive funds; in 2027, those who finished in 2026, and so on,” Duarte explains.

To qualify, former players must meet several criteria: be over 30 years old, have at least 144 months under contract, and have played professionally in Uruguay for a minimum of six years. If a beneficiary returns to professional football, they will no longer receive payments from the fund.

As resources are limited, 2025 has been set as the starting point for eligibility. However, the union is also working on recognising players who retired in previous years.

Additional benefits

Beyond the financial distribution, the agreement also includes a range of additional benefits for players in Uruguay’s men’s first, second and third divisions, as well as the women’s first and second divisions.

“We will have $60,000 to spend on ultrasounds, operations and MRIs. This will allow us to support players in situations we cannot currently cover, or those without health insurance.”

The MUFP will also receive $50,000 for education and post-retirement programmes, including coaching and management courses.

One of the union’s ongoing initiatives is the distribution of 2,000 food baskets per year. From 2026, this will increase to 4,000.

“These baskets are provided to all players. It is a universal benefit. We will maintain our current distribution and, thanks to the agreement, expand it mid-year and at the end of the year.”