Fifa regulations breach free movement laws: EU court

Some of Fifa's player transfer rules go against European Union laws and free movement principles, the EU's top court said on Oct 4 in a ruling that could open the door for players to find a new club more easily after their contract is terminated.

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Fifa's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players state that a player who terminates a contract before its term "without just cause" is liable to pay compensation to the club. If the player joins a new club, they will be jointly liable.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), ruling on a high-profile case linked to former France player Lassana Diarra, stated these dispositions were unlawful, and the judgment is expected to prompt Fifa to revamp its transfer regulations.

"The rules in question are such as to impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club," said the Luxembourg-based CJEU.

"Those rules impose considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks as well as major sporting risks on those players and clubs wishing to employ them, which, taken together, are such as to impede international transfers of those players."