Former French international Lassana Diarra has filed a €65 million ($76 million) compensation claim against FIFA and the Belgian Football Federation following a landmark European court ruling that questioned the legality of football’s transfer system.
Diarra’s lawyers announced the move on Monday, citing “unsuccessful settlement negotiations with FIFA”. The 40-year-old former midfielder for Chelsea, Arsenal, and Real Madrid is demanding damages for career setbacks linked to a long-running dispute with his former club Lokomotiv Moscow.
The legal battle, which began more than a decade ago, escalated last October when the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that elements of FIFA’s transfer rules were incompatible with EU labor and competition law.
Diarra’s case stems from FIFA regulations that held players and prospective clubs financially liable if a contract was deemed broken without “just cause.” The Court of Arbitration for Sport initially backed FIFA and Lokomotiv, but the ECJ later found such restrictions hindered both player mobility and competition between clubs.
The fallout left Diarra sidelined for the 2014–15 season before resuming his career at Marseille and eventually retiring at Paris Saint-Germain six years ago.
In a statement, Diarra said his fight was both personal and symbolic:
“I am doing this for myself. But I have also done it for all the up-and-coming, lesser-known players who do not have the financial and psychological means to challenge FIFA before real judges.”
FIFA, declining to comment on ongoing proceedings, said it is working with stakeholders to update its regulations in line with ECJ guidance.
Diarra’s lawsuit, currently before a Belgian court, is backed by FIFPRO, the global players’ union, as well as its European branch and the French players’ union. His legal team is also pursuing a class-action lawsuit filed this month against FIFA and several national federations, a case that could potentially benefit over 100,000 players across two decades.
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