Former France midfielder Lassana Diarra is restarting legal proceedings seeking 65 million euros (US$75.95 million) in damages from FIFA and the Belgian soccer association after the European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled in October that the world soccer body rules breached EU laws.
FIFA handed Diarra a fine of 10 million euros after the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid player left Lokomotiv Moscow one year into a four-year contract in 2014.
That prompted the player to sue FIFA and the Belgian association for damages before a local court.
Photo: AP
Diarra on Monday said that he had waited a few months before restarting proceedings in Belgium hoping FIFA and the Belgian association approached him for an amicable settlement, which did not happen.
“I have been forced to fight this legal battle since August 2014. That’s more than 11 years,” Diarra said in a joint news release from players’ unions FIFPRO, FIFPRO Europe and the French National Union of Professional Footballers, who had all backed him in the case.
“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,” he said.
FIFA amended its transfer regulations after the CJEU ruling, adopting an interim framework on the calculation of compensation payable and burden of proof if there is a breach of contract.
“FIFA has been working with its stakeholders to amend its regulations following the guidance offered by the ECJ. FIFA does not comment on ongoing legal matters,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
The Belgian association did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month, a Dutch soccer players’ group announced it was preparing a Europe-wide class action claim against FIFA and other associations, seeking compensation over alleged loss of income due to restrictive transfer rules.
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