Former Chelsea and Arsenal star, Lassana Diarra has declared his intention to sue FIFA in a case that will have a significant impact on football tranfers going forward.
The former France international star is at odds with football’s governing body because of a contract disagreement he had with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2015. He is demanding compensation of €65 million.
Since the Bosman Ruling in 1995, this case is expected to have the most effect on the transfer market.
Diarra is seeking “full compensation for career damages caused by FIFA’s illegal transfer system,” according to a statement released by FIFPro.
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The former footballer is now utilizing the Belgian legal system to obtain what he feels is rightfully his after the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) pronounced a decision in his favor.
“I have been forced to fight this legal battle since August 2014. That’s more than 11 years!” Diarra said in a statement.
“I am doing this for myself. And if I have been able to hold out against the FIFA steamroller, it is because I had a good career.
“But I have also done it for all the up-and-coming, lesser-known players who do not have the financial and psychological means to challenge FIFA before real judges.”
What Happened To Diarra?
In 2015, while he was still under contract with Lokomotiv Moscow the Russian team tried to lower his pay. Diarra responded by declining to train.
He was then sued by Lokomotiv. FIFA rules declared Diarra in violation of his contract and ordered him to reimburse the club half of his €20 million transfer fee.
Diarra was also denied an international transfer certificate, so depriving him the chance to work, on the grounds that he had nothing to do with the amount that Lokomotiv and Anzhi had agreed upon for his transfer.
Charleroi, a Belgian team, wanted to sign him but couldn’t because they were worried about having to pay Diarra’s unpaid transfer fee to Lokomotiv.
In the end, he played for PSG, Al-Jazira, and Marseille, although the incident cost him an important part of his career.
How Could The Transfer Market Change
The CJEU’s ruling against FIFA’s current system may lead to a redesign of the football transfer window’s current structure.
“The CJEU ruled that some FIFA transfer rules violated EU principles of free movement of workers and competition law,” FIFPro claims.
“The court reinforced the concept of freedom of movement and recognised that the transfer system was preventing the players from exercising their right to terminate employment contracts without just cause, even if that right was in principle recognised in the regulations.”
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