Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham braced for major transfer change as FIFA told rules are 'illegal'

The European Court of Justice has ruled that some of FIFA's rules on the movement of players between clubs are contrary to EU law following a case brought by Lassana Diarra

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that certain FIFA regulations concerning player transfers contravene European Union laws and are illegal.

The verdict comes amid a tug-of-war between sports governance and EU legalities, sparked by the case of former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra regarding a fallout with Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014.

Taking aim at what he deemed a breach of freedom of movement, Diarra sued FIFA over specific guidelines which he argued essentially prevent a player from joining a new club after having had their contract terminated. The regulations outlined that the new club would be jointly liable for the player's compensation to his former club, putting off any interested suitor from employing them.

Diarra's move to Belgian club Charleroi was a case point of this. In a statement released Friday morning, the ECJ declared these contentious rules at odds with EU Rules. It said: "The rules in question are such as to impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club."

The release highlighted the court's opinion that, although certain movement restrictions might be justifiable to manage competition among clubs and maintain squad stability, the rules in question were deemed excessive for achieving that aim.

The full judgement is pending publication, but the initial ruling suggests FIFA may need to revise the regulations in question. The impact this will have on the transfer market regarding Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and all clubs and players is yet to be determined.

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At first glance, if the regulations allow for increased player mobility, it could simplify the process for players looking to leave their current clubs due to disagreements. The verdict will now return to the appeal court in Mons, which will use it to guide its decision regarding Diarra's individual case.

Jean-Louis Dupont, leading Diarra's legal team and known for his role in the landmark Bosman ruling of 1995, hailed the outcome as a "total victory".

Dupont's law firm issued a statement claiming the decision "paves the way for a modernisation of governance, in particular through the use of collective bargaining between employees and employers".

FIFPRO, the global players' union, embraced the court's findings, predicting a significant shift in professional football. FIFA responded by stating: "FIFA is satisfied that the legality of key principles of the transfer system have been reconfirmed in today's ruling.

"The ruling only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which the national court is now invited to consider. FIFA will analyse the decision in co-ordination with other stakeholders before commenting further."

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