Fifa facing class action suit from Justice for Players

A group of current and former footballers is reportedly preparing to take legal action against FIFA regarding the governing body's current transfer rules. The Justice for Players (JfP) group is believed to have initiated a class-action lawsuit, seeking billions in compensation for individuals who have played in the United Kingdom or the European Union and may have lost earnings due to these transfer regulations.

The lawsuit, which is based in the Netherlands, also targets the football associations of France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands. These associations are expected to respond by September.

What is Justice for Players claiming?

JfP has claimed that as many as 100,000 footballers, both men and women, are involved in a case currently being heard in the Dutch district court of Midden Nederland. This venue was chosen due to its favourable laws regarding class actions.

The Football Association (FA) in England is not directly involved in the lawsuit, but it is believed that they have received a copy of the letter related to the case.

This lawsuit has the potential to bring about significant changes in the sport, possibly giving players the ability to terminate their own contracts.

Impact of the Diarra Ruling

Justice for Players' (JfP) claim follows a ruling from the European Court of Justice (CJEU), which determined that certain FIFA rules regarding player transfers are illegal under European Union legislation. This ruling arose from the Lassana Diarra case in October 2024.

Diarra, a former star for English giants Chelsea and one of the biggest clubs in the world, Real Madrid, had been involved in a decade-long legal battle with FIFA after being ordered to pay €10.5 million (£8.8 million) for breaching his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014. FIFA also imposed a 15-month suspension on Diarra, a decision upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which consequently blocked his transfer to Belgian club Charleroi. This conflict prompted a countersuit from Diarra.

Ultimately, Diarra won the case in the CJEU, which ruled that the existing transfer rules concerning the freedom of movement for players between football clubs across borders violate European Union laws related to competition and freedom of movement.

Justice for Players, which includes Franco Baldini, who served as an assistant manager for England under Fabio Capello on its board, is being advised by Diarra's lawyer, Jean-Louis Dupont. Dupont, a Belgian lawyer, is well-known for his role in the landmark Jean-Marc Bosman case, which transformed regulations in 1995, allowing players within the EU to move clubs freely upon the expiration of their contracts. Baldini stated, "As a former professional footballer, agent, and someone who has worked in various managerial roles in football, I have firsthand experience of the control and power FIFA holds over players. I am very proud to be part of Justice for Players and to contribute to changing the existing system, making football more inclusive and sustainable."