Article by Daniel Scorpie – published Monday, August 18, 2025, 17:03 / updated Monday, August 18, 2025 17:08
Lassana Diarra (39 years old), a former 40 -year -old French midfielder, had succeeded after a very long battle in court to be justice at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Now, the player has requested compensation worth 65 million euros from FIFA and the Belgian Football Federation.
With the support of FIFPRO EUROPE AND FIFPRO WORLD, Diarra's legal battle continues after The European Court of Justice (CJUE) has acknowledged that certain FIFA rules are contrary to EU law. The amount was calculated by Compass Lexcon, a world leader in evaluating damages resulting from the violation of competition law.
CJUE has established that certain FIFA rules on transfers violate the EU principles regarding the free movement of workers and the right of competition. The court reiterated the concept of free movement and acknowledged that the transfer system prevents players from exercising their right to terminate the employment contract for no good reason, even if this right was recognized in principle of regulations.
Lassana Diarra played between 2009 and 2012 at Real Madrid, ticking 116 matches, a goal and 7 assists / photo: IMAGO
The player, who decided to unilaterally break the three -season agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2015, reached the court, and the sentence dictated against him was the payment of 8.2 million euros. However, the Russian club did not receive anything, because the ex-champion in Laliga and Ligue 1 defeated with the help of EU magistrates.
Diarra: “I do it for me. And if I managed to resist the FIFA pressure, it is because I had a good career”
Lassana Diarra has released a statement explaining the reasons for her long battle. “I have to carry this legal fight since August 2014. It has been more than 11 years!”, Wrote the former midfielder.
Lassana Diarra played only 19 matches and 936 minutes in PSG's shirt in 2017, having only one assist / photo: Imago
“I do it for me. And if I managed to resist the FIFA pressure, it is because I had a good career.
But I did it for all less well-known players, who do not have financial and psychological means to challenge FIFA in front of true judges. FIFA and the Belgian Football Federation lost in front of CJUE. On the whole line!
Subsequently, FIFA modified its regulation, but decided to do so in a way that does not comply with the strict requirements imposed by the CJUE decision. I waited a few months before resuming the national procedure in Belgium.
I thought that FIFA and the Belgian Federation, especially following the efforts of FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe to favor a solution, would have even had the decency to propose an amicable settlement of the dispute (this was, in fact, the tone of the messages I received from FIFA). It wasn't that!
Diarra: “It is their right, but it reflects a persistent culture of contempt for the rule of law and to the players”
It is their right, but it reflects a persistent culture of contempt for the rule of law and to the players, despite the very clear message transmitted by CJUE. With great regret, we will have to justify ourselves again in front of the judges, because I have no other option.
In this regard, I would like to thank FIFPRO Europe, FIFPRO and UNFP for their permanent support. In front of FIFA, only the unit and determination can make us strong. Finally, I'm glad that The “Diarra Decision” opened the way for the “Justice for Players” Foundation to initiate a collective action in the Netherlands.
This will allow all the players (not only to those who, like me, have suffered a specific injury) to obtain damages for the damage caused by the FIFA regulations, without having to pay in advance the costs and without having to disclose their identity ”.
