Football's world governing body, Fifa, faces a growing number of legal challenges, including a new class action from the Netherlands that could seek billions in compensation. The action, brought by the group Justice For Players (JFP), claims that Fifa's rules have blighted players' careers and seeks damages for every active professional player since 2002, amounting to about 8% of their career earnings.
The case follows the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Lassana Diarra case, which found that Fifa's transfer rules restrict freedom of movement and are anticompetitive. If successful, the class action could make Fifa liable for billions, though many within the game expect the outcome to be a negotiated settlement leading to systemic changes.
Possible remedies include requiring release fees in all players' contracts, as in Spain, or encouraging shorter deals to reduce transfer fees. The Belgian law firm Dupont-Hissel, which represented Jean-Marc Bosman in the historic 1995 case, is key to the action. The firm has also represented the European Super League's backers and the Belgian club RFC Seraing in successful cases against Fifa and Uefa.
Fifa also faces other issues, including a complaint to the European Commission by European Leagues and Fifpro over changes to the international match calendar. Five European player unions have submitted a claim to the Brussels court of commerce asking for the CJEU to intervene. The legal route is increasingly embraced by stakeholders who feel dialogue with Fifa has been lacking.
Last month, Fifpro leaders travelled to New York expecting to meet Fifa president Gianni Infantino to discuss player rest breaks before the Club World Cup final, but were guided to another meeting. Fifpro president Sergio Marchi later criticised Fifa's 'autocracy', prompting Fifa to accuse Fifpro of 'blackmail' and demand full financial reporting. Fifpro has given tentative backing to the JFP claim, and the number of legal challenges to Fifa is rising, seen by some as the best opportunity to get the governing body to listen.
