Diarra Sues FIFA for $76M After Legal Win in Transfer Case

Lassana Diarra Seeks Million-Dollar Compensation from FIFA

Former French international footballer Lassana Diarra has filed a lawsuit for 65 million euros against FIFA and the Belgian football federation. The legal action follows a significant court victory related to transfer regulations. Diarra, who played for renowned clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, has been in a legal battle with FIFA for a decade. It all began after a break with his former club, Lokomotiv Moscow. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled last October that certain aspects of football transfer rules do not comply with the labor and competition laws of the European Union. The 40-year-old midfielder’s lawyers cited “unsuccessful settlement negotiations with FIFA” as the reason for the financial claim for damages throughout his career.

Lassana Diarra is claiming 65 million euros gross (35 million net) in compensation from FIFA and the Belgian Football Federation.

Dupont Hissel, law firm

FIFA has stated that it will not comment on “ongoing legal matters”, which represent the latest high-profile legal challenge to its authority. The world football governing body has indicated that “it has been working with its stakeholders to amend its regulations following the guidelines offered by the CJEU”. Diarra’s case, which is once again in the courts of Belgium, is supported by FIFPRO, the global players’ union, its European division, and its national member union in France. The legal dispute originated in Belgium, the country of origin of Charleroi, a club that wanted to sign Diarra after his contract was terminated in Moscow. At that time, FIFA’s transfer rules held the player and the interested club responsible for paying the previous club when a contract was considered to have been broken without “just cause.” The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed FIFA’s decision in favor of Lokomotiv.

The case was referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg, which ruled that some aspects of FIFA’s rules “hinder the free movement of players and competition between clubs”. Diarra’s dispute with Lokomotiv and FIFA prevented him from playing the 2014-15 season. Subsequently, he signed for Marseille and ended his career at Paris Saint-Germain six years ago.

I’m doing this for myself. And if I’ve been able to resist against the FIFA steamroller, it’s because I had a good career.

Lassana Diarra

Diarra’s lawyers are also working on a class action lawsuit filed this month against FIFA and some national football federations in Europe, which could benefit 100,000 players for more than two decades.