International transfers: "Some FIFA rules are contrary to EU law" (CJEU)

Certain rules contained in FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) "hinder the free movement of players", restrict "competition between clubs" and are therefore "contrary to EU law," announced the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which handed down its judgment on 04/10/2024 after receiving a reference for a preliminary ruling from the Mons Court of Appeal (BEL) in proceedings between former French international Lassana Diarra and the International Federation.

"On 20/18/2013, he (Lassana Diarra) signed a four-year contract with the professional Russian football club Futbolny Klub Lokomotiv ('Lokomotiv Moscow'). On 22/08/2014, Lokomotiv Moscow terminated that contract and applied to the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) for an order that Diarra pay compensation of €20m, alleging breach and 'termination of contract without just cause' within the meaning of Article 17 of the RSTP. Subsequently, Diarra began a search for a new club able to employ him, which proved to be difficult. He claims that this was because of the risk to the new club of…