Lassana Diarra case: FIFA transfer rules are illegal, says EU court

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 4 Oct 2024 04:21 CDT
• 3 min read

The football transfer market faces the prospect of a major shake up after the EU’s top court ruled that FIFA’s current rules are illegal following a case brought to it by former Chelsea star Lassana Diarra.

Diarra has argued against being liable for compensation relating to a contract dispute with Lokomotiv Moscow, which arose in 2015.

He was sued by the Russian club, with FIFA regulations putting him under breach of contract and making him liable to pay back €10 million of his €20m transfer fee.

READ MORE: How a former Chelsea star's court case could KILL the transfer market

The former Real Madrid and France midfielder argues that he was not responsible for agreeing that fee and that being unable to obtain an International Transfer Certificate blocked his ability to work.

It is a case that has been dubbed ‘Bosman 2.0’.

FIFA rocked

Diarra has struck the first major blow against FIFA with the news that the EU court says that current transfer laws are not fit for purpose.

"The rules in question are such as to impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club," said the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled on Friday.

Workers in the EU have a right to the freedom of movement.

It is unclear what this means for the long-term future of the transfer market in football, but what is obvious is that it throws up major questions as to how deals might be struck in the future.

While there is no prospect of an immediate change in the weeks or perhaps even months ahead, there is a sense that a major development that could revolutionise how footballers move between clubs is only a matter of time.