Diarra sues Fifa, laments 'culture of contempt'

Former France international Lassana Diarra is seeking €65 million (S$97 million) from Fifa and the Belgian football association as part of a long-running legal battle, the player's lawyer announced on Aug 18.

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The 40-year-old's challenge to Fifa prompted world football's governing body to amend its transfer rules after a landmark legal ruling in 2024, but he has been unable to reach a settlement.

His lawyer Martin Hissel said the claim was for "compensation (for) damage caused as a result of these Fifa rules" on transfers, which the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled to be contrary to European law in October 2024.

"Following a ruling by the CJEU, in the absence of an amicable solution, the next logical step is to return to the national courts so that they can implement the CJEU ruling," he said in a statement.

"That is therefore what we are doing now, on the basis of a very clear CJEU ruling that has settled all the key legal points. The Belgian courts should hand down their decisions in 12 to 15 months."