FIFA shaken by unprecedented lawsuit

100,000 players launch class action, accusing FIFA of violating EU law for more than 20 years - a legal milestone that could change the entire world football transfer system.

FIFA is facing one of the most serious legal challenges in its history.

FIFA is facing one of the most serious legal challenges in its history, with Justice for Players (JfP) officially filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of around 100,000 professional players who have played for clubs in the European Union and the United Kingdom since 2002.

The move follows a ruling by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) in the Lassana Diarra case, where FIFA was found to have violated EU freedom of movement and competition law. Specifically, FIFA’s transfer regulations were deemed to be unduly restrictive on players’ unilateral termination of their contracts – as in the case of Diarra who wanted to leave Lokomotiv Moscow to sign for Charleroi (Belgium) but was prevented from doing so.

The European Court of Justice determined that the requirement of “just cause” for termination of contracts, together with the provision of joint liability between the new and old clubs, created an unreasonable binding mechanism that negatively affected tens of thousands of players over the past two decades. The ruling paved the way for a pan-European class action, which was brought before the regional court of Midden-Nederland (Netherlands).

JfP says its aim is to seek compensation for financial losses caused by FIFA's illegal rules. Preliminary estimates suggest that up to 100,000 players could be affected, with many having their freedom to seek new clubs restricted and their incomes significantly reduced.

FIFPRO Europe, the European professional footballers’ union, has backed the legal action, calling it a “natural consequence” of the Diarra ruling. In an official statement, FIFPRO stressed the importance of protecting the legitimate rights of workers in football, and called for far-reaching reforms to end the unilateral, opaque mechanisms that have long plagued international football’s governance.

FIFPRO affirms that it will continue to promote constructive dialogue with football organizations and public authorities, to ensure sustainable and equitable development for the entire football ecosystem - from the current generation of players to the next.

Source: https://znews.vn/fifa-rung-chuyen-vi-vu-kien-chua-tung-co-post1573931.html