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EU Court Declares FIFA Transfer Rules Illegal; Players' Union Predicts Landscape Change

Oct 4, 2024, 09:47 AM

The European Union's top court has ruled that some of FIFA's rules on international football transfers are contrary to EU law, in a landmark case involving former France player Lassana Diarra, who terminated his contract with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) found that certain regulations obstruct the EU's free movement principles, particularly affecting players seeking new clubs after ending their contracts. Jean-Louis Dupont, Diarra's lawyer, stated that 'there will be a before and after in football's governance' following the ruling, signaling that 'FIFA's immunity is over.' The ruling could significantly impact the current transfer system, with the global players' union FIFPRO stating it will 'change the landscape of professional football.' FIFA responded by asserting that the legality of key principles of the transfer system has been reconfirmed, and that the ruling only questions specific paragraphs of its regulations. The case has drawn comparisons to the 1995 Bosman ruling, which profoundly altered football's transfer market.