Alleged legal dispute poised to reshape the world of football
The Dutch foundation Justice for Players (JFP) has launched a landmark class action compensation claim worth billions of euros against FIFA, the German Football Association (DFB), and other European football associations. The lawsuit, which follows a 2024 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that parts of FIFA’s transfer rules violate EU laws on free movement, aims to challenge the historical regulations that JFP argues have significantly reduced the career earnings of potentially over 100,000 players across Europe.
This legal action was prompted by a landmark CJEU ruling related to French player Lassana Diarra, who was fined €10 million by FIFA for breaching a contract. The court found FIFA’s transfer rules incompatible with EU law. In response, FIFA adopted an interim regulatory framework to modify how compensation for contract breaches is calculated and who bears the burden of proof.
JFP, advised by law firm Dupont-Hissel, seeks to obtain compensation for these damages. Notably, Jean-Louis Dupont, the founding lawyer of Dupont-Hissel, was instrumental in the famous Bosman ruling that revolutionized player transfers in 1995 by enabling free movement of players within the EU.
The progress of the claim is currently at the early litigation stage, with public calls from JFP encouraging affected players to join the class action to increase claims and pressure on FIFA and football associations. While FIFPRO Europe, the professional players’ union, has acknowledged the claim, detailed reactions or support have not been expanded publicly yet.
If successful, this case could significantly alter the financial landscape of European football by forcing FIFA and national associations to change transfer regulations further to comply with EU laws. Potential financial compensation payouts to thousands of players whose earnings were suppressed by existing rules could be enormous. The case could also empower players and their unions to negotiate terms more fairly and independently from clubs and governing bodies, undermining the current control of player contracts and transfers by football authorities, impacting club finances and transfer market dynamics.
Given that this class action echoes the profound impact of the Bosman ruling, it could represent a pivotal shift in football governance, emphasizing player rights and fair labor practices under EU law. However, as of August 2025, the claim is still developing, and no final judgments or settlements have been reported.
The lawsuit involves players who have played professionally in the EU or UK since 2002. Unlike other workers in the European Union, footballers are bound by contracts they sign when they join a club or renegotiate a deal. JFP claims that players earned 8% less over the course of their career as a result of FIFA's transfer rules. The case is expected to get to court in 2029 if a settlement cannot be reached in advance.
FIFA and DFB have received correspondence from JFP, which they are currently reviewing internally. FIFA tweaked those laws in December, but less stringently than advocates had hoped for. The compensation claim could be worth billions of euros and involves 100,000 footballers who have played professionally in the European Union over the last 23 years.
For high-paying leagues like Spain, Germany, and France, penalties could be ruinous for clubs if JFP and Seegar are successful. European clubs often have to adhere to financial rules of profit and sustainability from domestic leagues and European football’s governing body, UEFA. The ECJ ruled that FIFA transfer laws impede the free movement of professional footballers, which could have a similarly significant impact, restructuring the system and making it more like normal employment cases.
However, as the legal process unfolds, it remains to be seen how this historic lawsuit will reshape the world of football. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
This class action compensation claim against FIFA, the DFB, and other European football associations, instigated by the 2024 CJEU ruling, could have a significant impact on the world of sports, particularly football. With potential financial compensation payouts to over 100,000 players across Europe, the case could alter the financial landscape of European football. Furthermore, if successful, this case might empower players and their unions, potentially leading to fairer negotiations and challenging the current control of player contracts and transfers by football authorities.
