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Former France international Lassana Diarra is seeking €65 million ($76 million) in damages against FIFA and Belgium's national football federation after a landmark legal win about transfer rules, which were deemed anticompetitive by Europe's top court last year.
The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), in October 2024, said some of FIFA's rules on player transfers went against the 27-member bloc's laws and free movement principles in the case linked to Diarra.
Following unsuccessful settlement negotiations with FIFA, the former Chelsea, Arsenal, and Real Madrid midfielder, lawyers for the 40-year-old filed a financial claim for damages throughout his career.
"Lassana Diarra is claiming €65 million gross (€35 million net) in compensation from FIFA and the Belgian Football Association," his legal firm Dupont Hissel said in a statement.
"I waited a few months before restarting the national proceedings in Belgium, thinking that FIFA and the Belgian Federation, in particular following FIFPRO’s and FIFPRO Europe’s efforts to favour an outcome, would at least have the decency to approach me to propose an amicable settlement of the dispute (this was, incidentally, the tone of the messages I received from FIFA). This was not the case. That is their right, but it reflects a continuing culture of contempt for the rule of law and for players, despite the crystal-clear message sent by the CJEU," Diarra said.
Footballers, past or present, who pursue their careers under the illegal FIFA rules have the right to seek compensation, and a class action lawsuit has been launched by 'Justice for Players,' represented by Finch Dispute Resolution, especially for cases like this.
The legal case began in Diarra's home country when Belgian club Charleroi wanted to sign Diarra after his contract at Lokomotiv Moscow was terminated.
FIFA transfer rules at the time blamed the player and the potential signing club for contract termination without "just cause" and made both parties liable for paying the former club. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA's ruling in favour of the Russian club.
The case was then sent to the European court, which stated that the FIFA rules "hinder the free movement of players and competition between clubs." The dispute forced the player to miss the 2014-15 season.
