Lawyers representing former French international Lassana Diarra have confirmed that the ex-midfielder is suing FIFA and the Belgian Football Association for €65 million (approximately $76 million) following a major legal victory that challenged aspects of football’s transfer system.
Diarra, 40, previously played for top clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Real Madrid. His case stems from a long-running dispute with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow, which began over a decade ago and eventually led to a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in October. The court found that parts of FIFA’s transfer regulations conflicted with the European Union’s labor and competition laws.
In a statement released by his legal team, Dupont Hissel, Diarra is demanding €65 million in gross damages (€35 million net) for what he alleges were career-altering consequences caused by FIFA’s enforcement of transfer rules.
“Lassana Diarra is claiming €65 million in compensation from FIFA and the Belgian Football Association,” the firm stated, citing failed settlement talks as the reason for the formal legal action.
FIFA has declined to comment on the case, citing ongoing legal proceedings, but noted it is working with stakeholders to revise its regulations in light of the ECJ’s guidance.
Diarra’s case, now being heard in a Belgian court, is backed by the global players’ union FIFPRO, its European division, and the French players’ union. It originated when Belgian club Charleroi attempted to sign Diarra after his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow was terminated. However, FIFA’s rules at the time held both Diarra and the interested club liable to compensate Lokomotiv for a contract termination deemed unjustified.
That decision was initially upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the case was escalated to the European Court of Justice. The ECJ ruled that such transfer restrictions could unlawfully restrict player movement and competition between clubs within the EU.
As a result of the dispute, Diarra was sidelined for the entire 2014–15 season before signing with Marseille and later finishing his career at Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.
In a statement issued through his lawyers, Diarra said, “I am doing this for myself. And if I’ve been able to stand up to the FIFA steamroller, it’s because I had a good career.”
“But I’ve also done it for all the up-and-coming, lesser-known players who don’t have the financial or psychological resources to take on FIFA in real courts,” he added.
Diarra’s legal team is also preparing a broader class action lawsuit against FIFA and several European football federations, which could involve as many as 100,000 players impacted by similar transfer rules over the past two decades.
