FIFA to relax major rule on player transfers following court ruling

FIFA have announced plans to review it regulations on the status and transfer of players.

This follows a key ruling by the European Court of Justice involving former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.

In 2014, Diarra unilaterally terminated his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow but was blocked by FIFA from signing with Belgian club Charleroi, a decision that led to a legal dispute.

Diarra eventually moved to Olympique Marseille after a year out of football, but the case led to a significant ruling in his favour, sparking debate over FIFA’s control of transfer regulations.

The ruling also pointed at a potential shift in how players’ contractual rights are handled.

FIFA’s Director of Legal Services, Emilio Garcia Silvero, announced that the organization will now engage relevant stakeholders in discussions to update the transfer system and ensure it meets favourable to players and clubs.