Former France and international footballer Lassana Diarra has reignited a major legal battle to claim £56 million (approximately 65 million euros or $76 million) in damages from FIFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA). This legal action follows a landmark ruling by the European Union’s highest court, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which in October 2024 found that certain FIFA transfer regulations violated EU laws on free movement of workers and competition.
The dispute traces back to 2014, when Diarra, a former midfielder who played for high-profile clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Lokomotiv Moscow, became embroiled in controversy after prematurely ending his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow. FIFA imposed a hefty penalty of around 10 million euros on Diarra for breach of contract. Additionally, FIFA’s rules required Diarra—and a prospective Belgian club, Charleroi—to pay compensation deemed excessive under the court’s later scrutiny.
The CJEU ruling marked a pivotal moment, declaring that FIFA’s transfer regulations unlawfully restricted players’ rights to freely change clubs and impeded competition. These regulations had allowed FIFA to control when and how players could leave their clubs, demanding compensation that stifled players’ career mobility. The court criticized rules that placed joint financial liability on new clubs and allowed withholding of international transfer certificates, preventing players from joining new clubs freely. The ruling highlighted FIFA’s position as an overly powerful player with unilateral control over player contracts in Europe.
Diarra, now 40 years old, has said he was compelled to pursue the legal battle for over 11 years, not just for himself but for lesser-known players without the resources to challenge FIFA’s authority. Supported by professional footballers’ unions including FIFPRO, FIFPRO Europe, and France’s Union of Football Players (UNFP), Diarra hopes this case will set a precedent and bring justice and reform. His legal team has criticized FIFA’s attempts to revise transfer rules following the court decision, deeming them inadequate and not fully compliant with the ruling.
The renewed legal action is being pursued through national proceedings in Belgium after failed attempts to reach an amicable settlement with FIFA and the RBFA. Beyond his individual claim, the CJEU decision has inspired broader legal challenges. The Dutch foundation Justice for Players has launched a class action lawsuit against FIFA and several European football federations, claiming compensation for an estimated 100,000 affected players across Europe. This class action seeks to address the financial losses players suffered due to restrictive FIFA regulations over the past two decades.
Economists have preliminarily estimated that affected professional footballers earned approximately 8% less over their careers than they would have absent these restrictive transfer regulations. This loss underscores the broad impact of FIFA’s control, described by critics as a “no-poaching agreement” that suppressed player movement and earnings potential in professional football.
Lassana Diarra’s case is notable because it challenges established power structures in global football governance. His fight symbolizes a push for fairer treatment of players, the right to freely work and move within the EU, and increased transparency and equity in football contract regulations. As he and allied organizations press on with legal battles, they seek not only compensation but meaningful reform that protects players’ fundamental rights and creates a more just football ecosystem.
This legal saga underscores the ongoing tension between traditional sports governing bodies like FIFA and evolving labor and competition laws in Europe, representing a key moment of transformation for the football world. Diarra’s pursuit of damages and justice highlights the broader struggle for players’ rights and fair treatment within professional sports globally.