FIFA has reached a settlement with former France midfielder Lassana Diarra, bringing to an end a long-running legal dispute that challenged key regulations governing international player transfers.
The agreement concludes a case that gained global attention after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in October that aspects of FIFA’s transfer regulations breached European Union labour laws and freedom of movement rules.
Diarra, who played for Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid during his career, had sought €65 million in damages from FIFA and the Belgian Football Association following the ruling.
The dispute dates back to 2014 when the midfielder left Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow after spending just one year of a four-year contract.
FIFA subsequently imposed a €10 million penalty on the player, arguing that he had terminated his contract without just cause.
According to Diarra’s legal team, the regulations made it difficult for him to secure a new club because potential employers feared they could become liable for the financial penalty.
On Monday, FIFA confirmed that all legal proceedings between both parties had been resolved.
In a statement, FIFA said: “Following the global agreement they have reached, Mr Lassana Diarra and FIFA have settled all legal proceedings between them.”
Despite reaching the settlement, FIFA stressed that the agreement should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing.
The governing body said: “FIFA has not made any admission of liability nor payment by way of compensation.
“FIFA will not be providing any further comment at this time.”
The case has been viewed as one of the most significant legal challenges to football’s transfer system in recent years, with the European court’s ruling prompting wider scrutiny of regulations affecting player movement and contractual disputes.
While the settlement closes the chapter between FIFA and Diarra, the broader implications of the court ruling continue to attract attention across world football.
More details here...
