FIFA and the global players’ union FIFPRO are at odds over temporary changes to transfer rules following the Lassana Diarra case. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in October that some FIFA regulations violated EU laws on freedom of movement and competition. In response, FIFA introduced interim amendments effective for the January transfer window, claiming they are a “balanced compromise.” However, FIFPRO criticized the changes, accusing FIFA of bypassing proper collective bargaining and failing to align with the ECJ ruling. FIFA emphasized that the interim measures are temporary and intended to provide stability, with plans to finalize a permanent framework by July 2025. Diarra’s legal battle stemmed from a dispute over his failed transfer to a Belgian club in 2014, which he attributed to FIFA’s restrictive rules.
