FIFA Settles Transfer Rights Case with Lassana Diarra
FIFA has officially announced a settlement with former French midfielder Lassana Diarra regarding a contentious player transfer rights dispute. This follows a ruling from the European Union’s highest court, which concluded that certain regulations set forth by FIFA contravened EU laws.
Diarra had initially sought a substantial sum of 65 million euros (approximately 75 million dollars) in damages from both FIFA and the Belgian Football Association. This claim arose after FIFA imposed a hefty fine of 10 million euros on him when he unilaterally departed from Lokomotiv Moscow just one year into a four-year contract back in 2014.
In a statement released on Monday, FIFA confirmed that the legal proceedings between the organization and Diarra are officially resolved through this global agreement. Notably, FIFA refrained from admitting any liability or making a financial compensation as part of the settlement, hinting that no further comments will be offered on the matter at this time.
As of now, representatives for Diarra have not responded to requests for comments regarding this settlement.
The implications of the CJEU ruling prompted FIFA to revise its transfer regulations, introducing new interim guidelines regarding how compensation is calculated and the burden of proof required in the event of contractual violations. This landmark ruling, referred to as the “Diarra ruling,” has garnered increased support among around 20 European national players’ unions, as they now consider a Europe-wide class action lawsuit against FIFA.
