Former France international Lassana Diarra is demanding 65 million euros ($76 million) in damages from FIFA and the Belgian football association, his lawyer announced on Monday, marking a new chapter in his long-running legal battle with world football’s governing body.
Diarra’s challenge to FIFA’s transfer regulations previously led to a landmark ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in October 2024, which forced FIFA to amend its rules. However, no settlement has been reached between the parties.
His lawyer, Martin Hissel, confirmed that the claim seeks “compensation for damage caused by FIFA rules” that were deemed contrary to European law.
“Following a ruling by the CJEU, in the absence of an amicable solution, it is natural to return to the national courts so that they can implement the CJEU ruling,” Hissel said. “That is what we are doing today, on the basis of a very clear ruling by the CJEU, which has settled all the essential legal points.”
According to Hissel, Belgian courts are expected to deliver a judgment within 12 to 15 months.
The CJEU ruling last October concluded that FIFA’s transfer regulations restricted the free movement of players, exposing them and clubs to “considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks as well as major sporting risks.” The court ruled that these measures disrupted the transfer system and violated EU law.
Diarra, who played for clubs including Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain, has been battling the case for years, seeking redress for what he argues were unlawful obstacles imposed on his career.
