The Court of Justice backed Lassana Diarra, a player who argued that football’s governing body FIFA went too far in preventing him from taking a new job.Lionel Ng/Getty Images

Football player transfer rules ruled offside by top EU court – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

Football rules that force players to pay compensation for quitting a club violate European Union law, the bloc's top court ruled, upending sanctions that underpin how the sport trades key players.

The Court of Justice backed Lassana Diarra, a player who argued that football's governing body FIFA went too far in preventing him from taking a new job with a Belgian club after his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow was terminated.

Under FIFA’s rules, players must pay compensation to clubs when their contracts are terminated without just cause. Any team they sign with is also liable to pay up.