Former France midfielder Lassana Diarra is pursuing Fifa for €65m (£56m) in compensation, following a European court ruling that found the governing body's transfer rules restricted his freedom of movement. Diarra, who previously played for Chelsea, claims Fifa has failed to reach a settlement, describing this as indicative of a 'culture of contempt'.
The case stems from the collapse of Diarra's proposed transfer from Lokomotiv Moscow to Belgian side Charleroi in 2014. After his contract was terminated by the Russian club, Fifa rules required him to pay a fine to Lokomotiv and compensation determined by separate legal action before he could obtain a transfer permit. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled in October 2024 that these rules were 'contrary to EU law', imposing 'considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks' on players and clubs.
Diarra is now starting legal proceedings against Fifa and the Belgian football association. In a statement, he said he had waited months for an amicable settlement, but that Fifa's lack of engagement reflected 'a continuing culture of contempt for the rule of law and for players'. The global players' union, FifPro, is backing his lawsuit, stating that Fifa declined to engage constructively to resolve Diarra's demand for compensation for his career losses.
Fifa amended its rules in December 2024, a move deemed insufficient by FifPro. The news follows a class-action lawsuit against Fifa, with lawyers estimating that players' lifetime earnings could have been reduced by up to 8% while the rules were in force. Diarra's lawyers, Dupont-Hissel, expect a verdict within 12 to 15 months. Diarra said he is fighting for himself and for lesser-known players who lack the means to challenge Fifa.
In a statement, Fifa said it has been working with stakeholders to amend its regulations following the ECJ ruling, but declined to comment on ongoing legal matters.
