Diarra v Fifa: Some Transfer Rules Break EU Law – Top court

Fifa rules which govern the way some football transfers work break the European Union’s laws, the highest European court has found.

A long-running legal battle between ex-Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra and Fifa has ended with the European Court of Justice finding in favour of the former player.

Diarra’s legal team successfully argued that the world governing body’s current system contravenes EU laws regarding freedom of movement of players and competition between clubs.

The court’s judgement says that, by refusing to provide Diarra with an international transfer certificate for a proposed move to Belgian club Charleroi in 2015, Fifa demonstrated that its rules “impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club”.

“The rules have as their object the restriction, and even prevention, of cross-border competition,” the judgement reads.

The court has determined that Fifa should not be able to use the international transfer certificate system to prevent players moving and working where they choose.

Parts of Fifa’s current transfer rules will have to be revised to remain valid in the EU.