Some of FIFA’s rules on the transfer of players between football clubs are contrary to European Union law, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled.
Former Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra challenged some of FIFA’s rules after the termination of his contract with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014.
His lawyers contested a rule which makes a club wishing to sign a player jointly liable for compensation to a player’s old club if player’s previous contract was terminated without reason. The former midfielder says those rules prevented Belgian side Charleroi from signing him in 2015.
“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,” the court said.
The court went on to say that while some restrictions on movement may be justified to regulate competition between clubs and to ensure contractual stability in playing squads, the court felt the rules in question went “beyond what is necessary to pursue that objective”.
The ruling will now be referred back to the appeal court in Mons to inform its decision in Diarra’s specific case.
FIFA and world players’ union FIFPRO are expected to issue statements on the ruling later on Friday, along with Diarra’s legal team.
