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EU Court's Landmark "Bosman 2.0" Ruling: FIFA Transfer Rules Violate EU Law

Oct 4, 2024, 10:15 AM

On October 4, 2024, the European Union's highest court ruled that some of FIFA's rules on the international transfers of professional footballers are contrary to EU law, specifically violating free movement principles. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision relates to a case involving former French international Lassana Diarra, who terminated his contract with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014 and faced sanctions when attempting to sign with Belgian club Sporting Charleroi. The court found that FIFA's regulations breached EU labor laws and thwarted Diarra's ability to freely find new employment. Diarra's lawyer, Jean-Louis Dupont, referred to the case as the "Bosman 2.0 affair" and celebrated the ruling as a "total victory," suggesting it could mark a new era in football governance. World players' union FIFPRO stated that the decision will "change the landscape of professional football," while PFA CEO Maheta Molango also commented on the judgment. FIFA responded by noting that the ruling only questions two paragraphs of two articles in its regulations. The landmark ruling could have significant implications for the football transfer market, potentially transforming how player transfers are conducted and impacting the governance of the sport.