Latest news with #LuciaMelcherts
The Sun
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dutch players' group files billion-dollar class action against FIFA
A Dutch football players' group has announced plans for a Europe-wide class action lawsuit against FIFA, seeking billions in compensation for alleged income losses due to restrictive transfer regulations. The Dutch Foundation for Justice stated that FIFA's rules have impacted roughly 100,000 players across European member states and the UK since 2002. Consultancy firm Compass Lexecon estimates damages could total billions of euros, with foundation board member Dolf Segaar calling it a 'billion-dollar claim.' The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is among the defendants named in the lawsuit. The case is being filed under the Dutch Act on the Settlement of Mass Damages in Collective Action (WAMCA), allowing the foundation to represent a large group of professional players. FIFA and the KNVB have not yet responded to requests for comment. A preliminary analysis suggests players collectively earned 8% less over their careers due to FIFA's regulations. 'All professional football players have lost a significant amount of earnings due to the unlawful FIFA Regulations,' said foundation chair Lucia Melcherts. The lawsuit follows a 2024 EU court ruling involving former player Lassana Diarra, which found some FIFA transfer rules violated EU laws. FIFA later adopted interim regulations modifying compensation calculations for contract breaches. The foundation is being advised by law firm Dupont-Hissel, founded by Jean-Louis Dupont, who previously handled the landmark Bosman ruling in 1995. Dupont represented Diarra in his case, calling a favorable judgment a milestone for modernizing football governance. - Reuters
Euronews
04-08-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Dutch group sues FIFA over transfer regulations after Diarra ruling
A Dutch foundation representing footballers has launched a class action lawsuit against FIFA and five football associations, alleging that transfer regulations unlawfully reduced players' earnings for over two decades. Justice for Players, the group behind the legal challenge, announced on Monday that professional male and female footballers who played for clubs within the European Union or the United Kingdom since 2002 are eligible to join the lawsuit. The action targets FIFA alongside the football federations of the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark. According to the foundation, FIFA's rules on contract terminations and player transfers violated EU laws on competition and free movement of labour, a claim strengthened by a ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last year. "Preliminary estimates indicate that the number of affected footballers may comprise approximately 100,000 players," the foundation said in a statement. 'All professional football players have lost a significant amount of earnings due to the unlawful FIFA regulations," its Chair Lucia Melcherts added. "The past and even current system unduly favours FIFA who has far too much unilateral power. In any other profession, people are allowed to change jobs voluntarily," she explained. The legal case is rooted in the ECJ's ruling in the case of former Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea player, Lassana Diarra, who joined Lokomotiv Moscow in 2013 before terminating his contract early due to alleged wage disputes. FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport sided with the club and ordered Diarra to pay €10.5 million in compensation. Diarra argued that FIFA's rules had made it difficult for him to find a new club, as any new employer would have been liable for the fee. The ECJ ruled that such regulations contradicted EU competition laws. Some commentators have compared the judgment to the Jean-Marc Bosman ruling of 1995, which ended transfer fees for players whose contracts ended in the EU. The Diarra ruling has not yet led to systemic changes in the global football transfer market, which is worth more than €8.6 billion annually. Justice for Players cited economic analysis from consulting firm Compass Lexecon, which estimates that affected players earned on average 8% less over the course of their careers due to the contested regulations.
Arabian Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Sony Sued Over ‘Sony Tax' in Digital‑Only PlayStation Market
Dutch courts are set to rule on a class‑action lawsuit brought by Stichting Massaschade & Consument, which claims Sony has leveraged its dominance in the PlayStation ecosystem to impose inflated digital pricing, burdening an estimated 1.7 million gamers and costing consumers at least €435 million since 2013. At the heart of the case is the allegation that digital editions of games—often bought via diskless PS5 consoles—are around 47 per cent more expensive than their physical counterparts, despite significantly lower distribution costs. The Massaschade & Consument foundation launched its 'Fair PlayStation' campaign in February, rapidly attracting over 20,000 petition signatures seeking compensation for affected gamers. The petition argues that Sony's closed‑shop approach—barring third‑party game sellers and app stores from its platform—amounts to monopolistic practice, enabling price manipulation without competitive pressure. Foundation chair Lucia Melcherts highlights the shift towards digital consoles: 'Many people notice that they are increasingly being pushed towards 'digital‑only' consoles … consumers pay an average of 47 % more for these digital versions than for exactly the same game on a physical disc'. The legal filing contends that Sony reaps more than double the profit on digital sales compared to retail copies, even though digital distribution should cost less. ADVERTISEMENT Data from the Netherlands indicates that more than 80 per cent of console gamers own a PlayStation, illustrating the company's extensive control over the local market. This dominance allows Sony to 'make decisions without having to worry much about what competitors, developers or consumers are doing,' says Melcherts. Industry analysis points out that while Sony exclusively controls pricing on its digital storefront, physical game retailers—such as bricks‑and‑mortar or online shops—compete on price, often discounting titles to capture market share. By contrast, diskless PS5 owners are locked into Sony's pricing model, facing limited or no alternatives. Legal observers note the case will challenge whether Dutch courts will accept jurisdiction and allow the suit to proceed to its substance. The first hearing is expected later this year, where the court will assess the foundation's standing and the validity of its antitrust claims. If the suit is admitted and successful, it could pave the way for consumer restitution and potentially force Sony to open its digital marketplace—though the foundation itself accepts that this level of structural change may be unlikely. Gamers in the Netherlands have expressed growing frustration at Pay‑to‑own models for digital content that offer no resale value or price competition. Reddit users have decried the practice, stating: 'Sony is abusing their market share to increase digital prices by nearly 50 %'. The lawsuit comes amid broader regulatory scrutiny of platform operators in areas such as app‑store commissions and loot‑box gambling classifications. It marks the latest legal effort to hold tech companies accountable for pricing power over essential digital ecosystems.
