Europe’s top court has ruled that certain FIFA transfer rules break current laws in place within the EU. The legal case against soccer’s governing body was brought forth by former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> midfielder Lassana Diarra. The issue between Diarra and FIFA has been ongoing for some time.



Diarra and his lawyers claimed that select transfer rules restricted his freedom and breached competition laws. As a result, the now-retired former player sued FIFA. The issue stems from Diarra’s time with Lokomotiv Moscow. The midfielder previously joined the Russian side in 2013. 



Nevertheless, the relationship between the player and the team quickly soured. Lokomotiv officials asked Diarra to lower his salary in the summer of 2014, but the midfielder denied the request. The Russian club then cut Diarra loose after the player failed to report to training. His contract was supposed to be in place until 2017. 



Along with severing ties with Diarra, Lokomotiv also sought financial restitution from the player and asked FIFA to ban him from joining another team. The governing body sided with the Russian club. Two years after the fiasco, Diarra had to pay Lokomotiv an $11 million fine for breaching his contract. He also picked up a ban, but he had already spent the entire 2014/15 season on the sidelines.



<h2>EU court claims that FIFA broke European laws by blocking transfer</h2>



After leaving Lokomotiv, the former midfielder was going to join Belgian side Charleroi on a free transfer. FIFA, however, blocked the move. The governing body’s rule in question pertains to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). The law states that players who terminate their contracts “without just cause” are liable to pay compensation to their club.



Despite these previous issues, the European court ruled in favor of Diarra on Friday. The ruling <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2024/oct/04/landmark-transfer-case-verdict-manchester-united-europa-league-reaction-football-news-live" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> that by denying transfers such as Diarra’s proposed move to Charleroi, FIFA’s rules “impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241004_WST_533411_Lassana-Diarra-EU-1200x675_ee4acc2b.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-533436" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lassana-Diarra-EU-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lassana-Diarra-EU-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lassana-Diarra-EU-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lassana-Diarra-EU-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Lassana-Diarra-EU.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Following the decision, a FIFA spokesman claimed that the court’s ruling only affects a small portion of the law. “FIFA is satisfied that the legality of key principles of the transfer system has been reconfirmed in today’s ruling,” <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cjwdydnl3w0o" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> the spokesman.



“The ruling only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles of the FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players, which the national court is now invited to consider.”



<h2>Ruling will likely bring biggest transfer changes since 1995 </h2>



The outcome of the case will bring some significant changes to player transfers. Ultimately, the court ruled that players should essentially have more power to play where they want to play. In turn, FIFA’s rules should be less restrictive against players’ wishes. 



There are worries that the decision will cause agents and players to exploit the ruling moving forward. British sports lawyer Tasin Patel has claimed that some players will soon break free of their contracts at certain clubs. “The result could mean far-reaching consequences for the transfer system, similar to how the Bosman Ruling affected transfers in 1995,” Patel told BBC Sport.



The Bosman Ruling allowed soccer players in the European Union to become free agents at the end of their previous contracts. These free agents could then sign with any other club of their choosing.



“Players may now be able to move more freely to other clubs by breaking with a contract as opposed to being tied to the club and contract,” continued Patel. “In addition, buying clubs may not have to pay compensation or claims.”



PHOTOS: IMAGO

EU vs FIFA: EU ruling could open Pandora's Box on transfers

Europe's top court has ruled that certain FIFA transfer rules break current laws in place within the EU. This stems from Lassana Diarra.

<div id="attachment_1732" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div>Together for the moment</div>
The much-anticipated return of La Liga began with a scintillating match between the new galácticos of Real Madrid and the pesky Deportivo La Coruña, who always gives Madrid a run for their money, literally.&nbsp; Because of the continued suspension of Pepe and the tendinitis suffered by Sergio Ramos, the Real Madrid defense was not at full strength, and Ezequiel Garay and Álvaro Arbeloa started in their positions respectively.&nbsp; All of Madrid’s big signings started, and they began in a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation with Lass and Xabi Alonso in central midfield and in front of the back four, Cristiano Ronaldo on the right of the three, Raúl on the left, and Kaká roaming in the middle behind the striker Karim Benzema.
Early in the match, Madrid played tentatively as expected, trying to figure the best strategy to incorporate the strengths of the new players.&nbsp; They created a plethora of chances but did not construct the decisive pass to generate a genuine goal-scoring opportunity.&nbsp; Then the magic materialized that los madridistas expected since the formation of this second galáctico team.
In the 26th minute, on another attacking situation, Kaká’s vision and audacity came to fruition.&nbsp; Cutting inside towards the “D,” Kaká sensed the diagonal run of Karim Benzema and slotted a pass to him that traveled first between Pablo Álvarez’s legs, then between Juan Rodríguez’s legs to spot Karim Benzema.&nbsp; Benzema then fired his shot first time, split through goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubía’s legs, and hit the post; Raúl cleaned up the rebound, and it was 1-0 Real Madrid.&nbsp; It was debatable whether Benzema was onside when Kaká played his through ball to him, but nevertheless, that was why Florentino Pérez sought out these world-class players: for this kind of ingenuity and flair.
No sooner than four minutes later did Depor expose Real Madrid’s defense with a training ground free kick routine.&nbsp; Depor caught Madrid sleeping, and Riki headed home the equalizer.&nbsp; Madrid gave both Riki and Alberto Lopo an ample amount of space, and Riki ended up scoring, but to have two players so open from a relatively short free kick was inexcusable.
Real Madrid scored five minutes later on a penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo.&nbsp; Lass made another decisive pass into the box for Raúl, and Aranzubía felled Raúl whilst trying to take the ball off his foot.&nbsp; Ronaldo took the penalty with his famous stutter step and beat Aranzubía to retake the lead 2-1. &nbsp;Ronaldo then showed his panache a minute later when he did a series of step-overs, breezed by the defender, and crossed a beautiful ball to Raúl in the box.&nbsp; Unfortunately, for Real, Raúl’s shot went straight into Aranzubía’s stomach, but Ronaldo’s individual brilliance lit up the Bernabéu yet again.
The combination of Lass and Xabi Alonso controlled the midfield, akin to their rivals Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández at Barcelona, and they were able to keep possession and take possession back whenever Madrid lost the ball.&nbsp; These two hold the key to unlocking opposing defenses; if they dictate the middle of the park, the front line will be able to be free to set up their one-two’s and other intricate positions.
The Real Madrid defense was caught ball watching in the first minute of the second half.&nbsp; Andrés Guardado worked the left flank and crossed to Juan Carlos Valerón, where he had the ability to control the cross, take the shot, and score from the top of the penalty box.&nbsp; No one was close enough to Valerón, and even when Ezequiel Garay attempted to close down Valerón’s shot, it was only in vain as Valerón blasted his shot passed a frozen Iker Casillas.&nbsp; Garay and Raúl Albiol did not have the chemistry required for a central defensive pair, and that was the kind of situation where Madrid missed the calm and positioning of Pepe.
Real almost gave up a third goal in the 57th minute when Guardado again paced down the left wing and sent a heavenly ball to Valerón.&nbsp; Valerón sliced through the center of the defense again but inexplicably sent his shot wide of the post.&nbsp; Casillas had no chance, and from the six-yard box, it was harder to miss than to score, but somehow, Valerón managed to do so.&nbsp; Depor paid for their missed golden chance when Lass scored three minutes later from just outside the “D”.
The final was 3-2 in favor of Real Madrid, and each of the new players had their distinct moments of skill.&nbsp; Their defense needs major improvement, and maybe when Pepe and Sergio Ramos return, these defensive gaffes will not occur as often.&nbsp; The statistics suggest that Madrid dominated the match with 59% of the possession, twenty-eight shots with eleven on goal, and ten corner kicks to Depor’s three.&nbsp; When watching the match, there was always a feeling that Deportivo La Coruña could get a draw or even win.
Real is definitely still a work in progress, and it will take more than one match to develop the chemistry needed to gel as a unit.&nbsp; Offense was not the problem last year, and they will likely surpass the eighty-three goals they scored in the prior season; however, they cannot expect to outscore teams on every occasion.&nbsp; Benzema, Ronaldo, Kaká, Xabi Alonso, et al. will not be the problems.&nbsp; If the back line continues to leak goals as if it were the Exxon Valdez, Real Madrid will not win La Liga or any other competition this campaign.

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