FIFA faces class action over player transfer regulations
Suit stems from EU ruling on Lassana Diarra
LONDON: A Dutch soccer players' group is preparing a 'potentially billion-dollar' Europe-wide class action claim against FIFA and other associations, seeking compensation over alleged loss of income due to restrictive transfer rules, it said on Monday. The Dutch Foundation for Justice said world soccer governing body FIFA's rules had affected approximately 100,000 players in European member states and the United Kingdom since 2002.
The foundation added that consultancy firm Compass Lexecon had estimated that damages could run into billions of euros, with the foundation's board member Dolf Segaar telling Dutch news agency NOS that 'it is a billion-dollar claim'. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is among the associations to be named in the suit. 'This case is being brought in the Netherlands under the Dutch Act on the Settlement of Mass Damages in Collective Action (WAMCA), which allows this legal action to be launched by JfP on behalf of a large group of professional footballers,' it added.
FIFA and the KNVB did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. The foundation added that a preliminary analysis from Compass Lexecon estimated that professional footballers collectively earned around 8% less over their careers than they would have due to FIFA's regulations. 'All professional football players have lost a significant amount of earnings due to the unlawful FIFA Regulations,' foundation chair Lucia Melcherts said in a statement. ''Justice for Players' is bringing this claim to help achieve justice for footballers and fairness.'
The foundation added that the case was launched following a ruling on French player Lassana Diarra, who was fined 10 million euros ($11.56 million) by FIFA for leaving Lokomotiv Moscow one year into a four-year deal. In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union said some of FIFA's rules on player transfers went against European Union laws and free movement principles in the case linked to former Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid player Diarra.
Following the ruling by the EU's top court, FIFA in December adopted an interim framework concerning the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. The interim regulatory framework affects the calculation of compensation payable if there is a breach of contract and the burden of proof in relation to both compensation payable and an inducement to breach a contract. Justice for Players said it will be advised by law firm Dupont-Hissel, founded by Jean-Louis Dupont.
Dupont is the same lawyer who took the landmark case of Belgian Jean-Marc Bosman, which in 1995 cleared the way for players in the European Union to move to other clubs at the end of contracts without a transfer fee being paid. Dupont-Hissel also represented Diarra in his case against FIFA, with Dupont saying in 2024 that a judgment backing the player would be a milestone in modernizing football governance. He added that it would allow players' unions and club associations to regulate their employment practices. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
6 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
FIFA faces class action over player transfer regulations
FIFA faces class action over player transfer regulations Suit stems from EU ruling on Lassana Diarra LONDON: A Dutch soccer players' group is preparing a 'potentially billion-dollar' Europe-wide class action claim against FIFA and other associations, seeking compensation over alleged loss of income due to restrictive transfer rules, it said on Monday. The Dutch Foundation for Justice said world soccer governing body FIFA's rules had affected approximately 100,000 players in European member states and the United Kingdom since 2002. The foundation added that consultancy firm Compass Lexecon had estimated that damages could run into billions of euros, with the foundation's board member Dolf Segaar telling Dutch news agency NOS that 'it is a billion-dollar claim'. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is among the associations to be named in the suit. 'This case is being brought in the Netherlands under the Dutch Act on the Settlement of Mass Damages in Collective Action (WAMCA), which allows this legal action to be launched by JfP on behalf of a large group of professional footballers,' it added. FIFA and the KNVB did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. The foundation added that a preliminary analysis from Compass Lexecon estimated that professional footballers collectively earned around 8% less over their careers than they would have due to FIFA's regulations. 'All professional football players have lost a significant amount of earnings due to the unlawful FIFA Regulations,' foundation chair Lucia Melcherts said in a statement. ''Justice for Players' is bringing this claim to help achieve justice for footballers and fairness.' The foundation added that the case was launched following a ruling on French player Lassana Diarra, who was fined 10 million euros ($11.56 million) by FIFA for leaving Lokomotiv Moscow one year into a four-year deal. In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union said some of FIFA's rules on player transfers went against European Union laws and free movement principles in the case linked to former Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid player Diarra. Following the ruling by the EU's top court, FIFA in December adopted an interim framework concerning the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. The interim regulatory framework affects the calculation of compensation payable if there is a breach of contract and the burden of proof in relation to both compensation payable and an inducement to breach a contract. Justice for Players said it will be advised by law firm Dupont-Hissel, founded by Jean-Louis Dupont. Dupont is the same lawyer who took the landmark case of Belgian Jean-Marc Bosman, which in 1995 cleared the way for players in the European Union to move to other clubs at the end of contracts without a transfer fee being paid. Dupont-Hissel also represented Diarra in his case against FIFA, with Dupont saying in 2024 that a judgment backing the player would be a milestone in modernizing football governance. He added that it would allow players' unions and club associations to regulate their employment practices. — Reuters
Kuwait Times
7 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Lando Norris wins Hungarian GP in another McLaren 1-2
Hamilton feeling 'useless' after GP qualifying flop BUDAPEST: Lando Norris fended off teammate Oscar Piastri to win the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday and maintain McLaren's relentless march through the season. Mercedes' George Russell took third as McLaren celebrated their 200th F1 win over half a century since their first and fourth consecutive 1-2 this year. Norris, on a one-stop strategy, held off a charging Piastri on fresher tyres to take the chequered flag by less than one second. Norris moved to within nine points of Piastri in the drivers' championship ahead of F1's mid-season break. 'I'm dead, it was tough!' said Norris. 'I wasn't planning the one-stop strategy, my voice has gone, but even more rewarding because of that.' 'I pushed as hard as I could, looking forward to a few weeks off,' said Piastri. 'Everyone's going to sleep well tonight, great way to go into the summer break. The drivers were awesome,' said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Polesitter Charles Leclerc was furious with his Ferrari team's strategy as he came in fourth leaving the Scuderia still waiting for their first win of the season. Fernando Alonso, nursing a bad back, was right in the thick of things to finish fifth for Aston Martin, ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Lance Stroll in the other Aston, and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls). Max Verstappen, in his 200th drive for Red Bull, had to settle for ninth with Kimi Antonelli rounding out the top 10 as the man he replaced at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, could only manage 12th in the second Ferrari. Hamilton feeling 'useless' Meanwhile, a crestfallen Lewis Hamilton declared himself 'useless' after qualifying in 12th position for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday as Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc surged to pole position. Seven-time world champion Hamilton exited the session in Q2 with his head down and his helmet on as the 40-year-old retreated to the team's motor home. 'I'm useless,' said the British driver. 'Absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You've seen the car on pole so they probably need to change driver.' But he was backed to bounce back by four-time champion Max Verstappen who himself ranted about his Red Bull car and team after struggling to line up eighth on the grid. 'Looking at the whole weekend, I think we're happy to be in Q3 because I've been more outside the top 10 than in it - so, yeah, it's been difficult this whole weekend,' said the Dutch driver. 'No grip, front and rear, and it was the same in qualifying so, for me, it was not really a shock. I just drove to what I already feel the whole weekend.' The 27-year-old Dutchman added that Red Bull - who had left a towel in his cockpit during a pitstop on Friday which led him to throw it out of the car, 24 hours after he had declared he was staying for 2026 - did not yet understand the problems with the car. 'No, clearly not,' he said. 'I mean, otherwise, of course, we would have changed it already, but somehow, this weekend, nothing seems to work.' 'Nothing works' Last year, Verstappen said he had been quick enough to challenge for pole, but this season, 'from lap one, it just felt off — and we threw the car around a lot and nothing really gave a direction. 'Now, it's just nothing works. You know, it's like just going around in circles and nothing gives you any kind of idea of what to do.' Looking ahead to Sunday's race, he said: 'There may be a few cars in front of me that I can maybe battle with a little bit and, of course, Lewis is still a bit further down the road which, I think, he shouldn't be there right? So, he will come through a bit.' The two multiple champions, who battled so intensely in 2021 when Verstappen claimed his first title after a controversial victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, appear to have found a rapprochement and mutual respect. But Hamilton's heart-on-sleeve vulnerability as he seeks his first Ferrari podium after 13 races this year may soon become a sad ending story if he cannot sort out his qualifying woes. As the record-holder of nine poles and a record eight wins at the Hungaroring, he has to produce a rousing reminder of his best racing days on Sunday, as Verstappen expects. — AFP
Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait wraps up camp in Croatia and Slovenia before the youth championship
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: The Kuwait national youth handball team has concluded its training camp in Croatia and Slovenia as part of preparations for the upcoming IHF Men's Youth World Championship, set to take place in Egypt from August 6 to 16. During the camp, the team played seven friendly matches against national sides from Croatia, Kosovo, and Slovenia. Head coach Heine Jensen of Denmark used the games to fine-tune tactical plans and assess players for the final squad that will compete in the tournament. Kuwait is drawn into Group A alongside Sweden, Portugal, and Austria. The team is scheduled to travel to Egypt tomorrow. Faisal Siwan, Technical Director of the national handball teams, acknowledged the challenges ahead. 'The World Championship requires thorough preparation and time, especially since we're in what many consider the toughest group of the tournament,' he said. He added, 'We have a committed coaching staff, dedicated players, and a supportive board—all working with maximum effort to ensure the team reaches peak performance mentally, physically, and tactically.' Siwan highlighted the value of the European friendlies, noting, 'Facing strong, historically successful teams gave our players critical international experience and tactical insight that will serve them well in Egypt.' He concluded, 'We're determined to raise Kuwait's flag high at this global event. It's a tough challenge, but one that this new generation of hungry, motivated players is ready to embrace.'
