FIFA will allow summer transfer windows to be moved "so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season", the governing body has announced, with the coronavirus pandemic postponing football throughout the world.

Football's world governing body has been working on recommendations and guidelines to address practical issues brought by the Covid-19 crisis.

The bureau of the FIFA council on Tuesday endorsed a set of principles agreed upon by a taskforce exploring the issue, with contracts and transfer windows key topics.

In addition to the shifting of transfer windows, any players whose contracts expire on June 30, including Watford's Ben Foster, Heurelho Gomes, Adrian Mariappa and Jose Holebas, should be extended further to allow them to complete the current campaign.

Furthermore, players who have already agreed to join new clubs for next season, like Ajax's Hakim Ziyech, who is set to join Chelsea, are expected to remain with their current teams until this season is completed.

A statement on the FIFA website claimed "it is necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances" when it comes to transfer windows.

It continued: "Accordingly, FIFA will be flexible and will allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the new measures will hope to provide some solutions to problems created by the pandemic, but realises there are still further issues to be solved.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly changed all the factual circumstances around football for this season," he said.

"So, FIFA, together with the stakeholders, has come up with some practical ideas and proposals to tackle these new circumstances. Whilst this will not solve each and every problem, it should serve to bring a measure of stability and clarity to football for the foreseeable future. We hope that this collaborative effort, under the leadership of FIFA, can provide a positive example of how football can come together and show unity, solidarity and a spirit of compromise in order to face the challenging times ahead. But before these times come, one thing must be clear to everyone, especially now: health comes first, well before football.”