Following the historic victory of Lassana Diarra against FIFA before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in 2024, the Dutch Foundation Justice for Players complains about the International Federation and several national federations.
In 2015, Lassana Diarra unilaterally broke her contract with the Lokomotiv Moscow in order to join Sporting Charleroi. The zebras had then withdrawn, fearing to have to pay up to 20 million euros to the Russian club as a compensation.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) then looked into the file and had considered that the rules of FIFA concerning the unilateral termination of a contract by professional footballers were contrary to European legislation. The CJEU thus made a judgment contesting the regulations in force.
According to the EU Court of Justice, FIFA regulations make it extremely difficult for a player to terminate his employment contract without valid reason and violate two fundamental principles of European law: free movement of workers and fair competition.
Towards a historical turning point?
This situation pushed the Dutch Foundation Justice for Players to react. She filed a complaint against FIFA as well as against the Belgian, Dutch, German, French and Danish national federations, she announced to the news agency Belgian.
“Justice for Players will represent all professional footballers who have played or have played since 2002 until today in clubs in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and which have been injured by the illegal rules of FIFA. According to provisional estimates, around 100,000 players may have been affected,” the press release may be reached.
The case will therefore be brought before the Dutch court of Midden -Nederland and could mark a major turning point in the history of contemporary football. The lawyer behind the Bosman judgment would even be involved in the file.
