Red card: Some of FIFA's international transfer rules clash with EU law, top court says

euronews (in English)

The Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice (ECJ) handed down its judgement of a long-running legal dispute involving a former high-profile footballer.

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00:00Certain FIFA rules on international player transfers are in breach of EU law, the EU's

00:07top court said on Friday.

00:09The Court of Justice of the European Union handed down its ruling following a decade-long

00:14legal challenge spearheaded by former footballer Lassana Diarra.

00:19According to the ECJ, certain FIFA rules impede the free movement of footballers wanting to

00:25progress their careers by working for new clubs.

00:28In 2013, Diarra signed a four-year contract with Russian team Lokomotiv Moscow, but the

00:34deal was terminated after Diarra was allegedly unhappy with pay cuts.

00:38Lokomotiv Moscow applied to FIFA for compensation, with its arbitration court finding Diarra's

00:44sacking was based on just cause.

00:46The player was ordered to pay the club millions of euros.

00:50Diarra claimed his search for a new club was hampered by FIFA rules stating any new side

00:55would be jointly responsible for paying Lokomotiv compensation.

00:59FIFPRO, the union representing footballers, celebrated the recent ECJ ruling, saying it

01:05would change the EU's sporting labour market.

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