Diarra Sues FIFA and Belgian FA Over Transfer Rules, Seeks €65M

Former French midfielder Lassana Diarra has restarted proceedings before Belgian courts, seeking compensation for the damage allegedly caused by FIFA’s transfer regulations, which the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) declared illegal in October 2024.

Diarra is claiming €65 million gross (€35 million net) in compensation from FIFA and the Belgian Football Association, with interest accruing until judgment is delivered. He reportedly delayed restarting proceedings in the expectation that FIFA and the Belgian Federation might propose an amicable settlement, but no such offer was made.

The dispute traces back to the termination of his contract with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014. Following the termination, Diarra faced multiple hurdles: he was ordered to pay compensation to Lokomotiv, any prospective employer risked joint and several liability for that compensation, and he was denied an international transfer certificate for a proposed move to Belgian club Charleroi.

In its landmark October 2024 ruling, the CJEU held that FIFA’s regulations infringed competition law and the right to free movement of workers. FIFA subsequently adopted an interim regulatory framework later that year covering issues such as compensation for breach of contract, joint and several liability, inducement for breach of contracts, and international transfer certificates.

Diarra has argued that although FIFA amended its regulations, the changes fall short of full compliance with the requirements imposed by the CJEU judgment.

The ruling has also prompted wider litigation. In August 2025, the Dutch foundation Justice for Players launched a class action in the Netherlands against FIFA and several national football associations, seeking compensation on behalf of players whose earnings were affected by the restrictive regulations.