Brussels (AFP) – French international Lassana Diarra, ordered to pay a 10-million-euro ($11m) fine to former club Lokomotiv Moscow, has in turn demanded millions in compensation from FIFA and the Belgian football federation, his lawyer said on Friday.
The 31-year-old appeared before a Belgian court along with his lawyers on Thursday and demanded six million euros from FIFA and the Belgian federation over the midfielder’s failed transfer to Charleroi.
While out of contract in early 2015, Diarra signed a letter committing himself to finishing the season with the Belgian top-flight side.
However, the deal hinged on a condition whereby the Belgian club would not face sanctions by signing Diarra, who was then in dispute with Lokomotiv.
Diarra had abruptly left the Russian club in 2014 after signing a four-year contract in 2013, mainly because of a pay cut.
Lokomotiv brought the case to FIFA and the world body imposed a fine of 10 million euros, which was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last May.
As a result Charleroi decided not to complete the Diarra signing.
The French player, now with Marseille, believes this was “a violation of the right of free movement of workers guaranteed by European treaties,” his lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont said in a statement.
The verdict will be delivered in the coming months.
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