Europe court suggests illegality in FIFA rules surrounding former PSG player Diarra’s transfer controversy

The European Court of Justice is set to make a landmark decision on FIFA’s player transfer rules following a case brought by former French footballer Lassana Diarra. The 39-year-old challenged the rules governing player contracts after his contract with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow was terminated in 2014.

Diarra claimed that FIFA’s rules, which hold a new club jointly liable for compensation with the player, hindered his ability to find a new team. He subsequently sued FIFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association for damages and loss of earnings.

Advocate General Maciej Szpunar at the CJEU stated that some of FIFA’s rules on player transfers may breach EU law, as they restrict clubs’ ability to recruit players and affect competition in the market for professional players. He recommended that the court side with the player in this case.

Diarra’s lawyer hailed the potential judgment as a milestone in modernizing football governance in the EU, allowing players’ and clubs’ unions to regulate their employment practices and putting an end to the commoditization of players.

The CJEU is expected to make a ruling in the coming months, and it typically follows the majority of recommendations from Advocate Generals. If the court rules in favor of Diarra, it could have far-reaching implications for player transfers and employment practices in European football.