LASSANA DIARRA SETTLES COMPENSATION CLAIM WITH FIFA AND BELGIAN FA

Lassana Diarra has reached a settlement with Fifa and the Belgian Football Association over his compensation claim linked to a blocked transfer in 2014. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and France midfielder had originally sought €65m from the two bodies. Diarra argued that figure represented damages sustained after Lokomotiv Moscow cancelled his contract and he was subsequently prevented from joining Belgian club Charleroi. Fifa confirmed the settlement on Monday, stating that no admission of liability had been made and no compensation payment had been issued.

The case stemmed from a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which found that Diarra's freedom of movement had been unlawfully restricted when the Charleroi transfer collapsed. The court determined that Fifa's rules governing contract cancellations were contrary to EU law. Diarra formally pursued his compensation claim last year following that judgement. The ruling prompted a reform of the global transfer system, which remains ongoing.

The settlement arrives as a separate class-action lawsuit against Fifa over its former transfer rules continues to expand. The Justice for Players group, represented by the same legal team that acted for Diarra, says it has the backing of at least 15 national players' unions. The group states that its claim flows directly from the CJEU's Diarra ruling and targets Fifa rules on contractual stability and player transfers that have been in force since 2002. The action contends those rules caused damage to all players whose careers were subject to them.