The European Union’s top court has ruled that Fifa’s player transfer rules breach EU laws, in a case involving former France player Lassana Diarra. The Court of Justice of the EU stated that the rules impede the free movement of professional footballers and restrict competition between clubs. Fifa’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) will now be referred back to the appeal court in Mons to inform its decision in Diarra’s case. Diarra’s legal team has hailed the ruling as a victory, claiming that it will modernize governance through collective bargaining between employees and employers. Fifpro, the international player’s union, has also stated that the ruling will change the landscape of professional football.
Fifa has released a briefing note expressing satisfaction that key principles of the transfer system have been re-confirmed in the ruling. The ruling calls into question only two paragraphs of two articles of the RSTP. The implications of the ruling are yet to fully unfold, and it remains to be seen how the transfer system may be reformed. The case has been compared to the landmark Bosman ruling in 1995 which revolutionized player transfers. Overall, the ruling may signal a loosening of clubs’ control over players and has the potential to impact the value of footballers as assets. The full implications of the ruling and its effects on the football industry are yet to be determined.
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