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Amsterdam, August 5, 2025 – FIFA is confronting a monumental legal challenge as the Dutch foundation Justice for Players (JFP) prepares to file a multibillion-pound class-action lawsuit in the District Court of Midden-Nederland. The lawsuit targets FIFA and the football associations of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, following a landmark October 2024 ruling by the European Court of Justice (CJEU). The CJEU declared FIFA’s transfer regulations unlawful, citing violations of EU competition law and the right to free movement of workers.
JFP estimates that around 100,000 current and former professional footballers in the EU and UK have lost approximately 8% of their potential earnings since 2002 due to these restrictive rules. The foundation, advised by Jean-Louis Dupont—the lawyer behind the 1995 Bosman ruling—asserts that players faced unjust restrictions and opaque transfer conditions, limiting their career mobility. A notable case is that of Lassana Diarra, who was denied an international transfer certificate in 2016 after a contract dispute with Lokomotiv Moscow.
The claim, backed by economic analysis from Compass Lexecon, could result in billions in compensation. While England’s Football Association is not currently a defendant, it has received legal notice and may be included later. FIFA and the named associations have until September to respond. The international players’ union, FIFPRO, has not approved FIFA’s revised transfer rules, raising further concerns about player rights. A successful lawsuit could transform the global football transfer system.
