FFA looks set to introduce ‘the Anthony Caceres rule’, closing the loophole which enables Melbourne City to use its brother club Manchester City to sign players.

A-League clubs have until Wednesday to submit feedback on the mooted change, which FFA outlined in a memo issued last week.

The proposed change would prevent Manchester City loaning players to Melbourne City for the length of the contract of his previous A-League club or a season (two registration periods).

Manchester City signed Anthony Caceres (white shirt) from Central Coast Mariners before loaning him out to brother club Melbourne City. Transfer fees between A-League clubs are not allowed. Source: Getty Images

It would not thwart Melbourne City’s attempts to sign Luke Brattan for next season, with Man City signing him from Brisbane Roar in October after he was allowed to terminate his contract due to delayed wage payments.

The Herald Sun has seen the memo sent to A-League clubs, indicating that they are seeking to change the provisions before June 1.

“FFA has completed its review of the regulations regarding transfers within the A-League in light of Anthony Caceres’ transfer from Central Coast Mariners to Manchester City and subsequent loan to related club, Melbourne City,’’ the memo said.

“Accordingly, FFA proposes to update the Player Contract Regulations to … include an additional provision that (where) common ownership exists such Player cannot register with the Related A-League club until the earlier of: the end of the term that was otherwise remaining on that Player’s contract with his immediately preceding A-League club; or two A-League registration periods having lapsed from the date of the player’s transfer to the overseas club.’’

The City Football Group’s $11.25m acquisition of Melbourne Heart in January 2014 has seen FFA scrambling to update the rule book, first moving to tweak to loan rules to prevent it from signing Frank Lampard on loan from New York City after David Villa had signed.

The loan change, which FFA claimed was made in the wake of Melbourne Victory’s loan acquisitions of Tom Rogic and James Troisi the year before, was dubbed ‘The Lampard Rule’.

Meanwhile Melbourne City has written to the FFA seeking to have the underage visa player ban removed.

The rule blocks clubs signing Under 20 visa players. If City’s request is successful, it would pave the way for Man City youth players to be loaned to Melbourne, as they have done with fellow brother club New York City.