The Justice for Players Foundation (JfP) has filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of professional soccer players against FIFA, building on the precedent set by the Lassana Diarra case. In that case, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled in favor of the player, determining that FIFA had severely violated EU competition law and the right to free movement of workers by preventing Diarra from unilaterally terminating his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow to sign with Belgian club Charleroi.
According to the CJEU ruling, FIFA’s regulations make it excessively difficult for a player to terminate their employment contract without just cause, thereby violating two core principles of European law: the free movement of workers and fair competition.
By unequivocally stating that FIFA’s rules were illegal and caused economic harm to all players, the CJEU ruling opened the door to a European-wide class-action suit. This lawsuit is now being filed against FIFA and several national football federations before the District Court of Midden-Nederland.
The JfP aims to represent all professional soccer players who currently play or have played for clubs in EU member states and the United Kingdom, and who have been negatively impacted by FIFA’s unlawful regulations from 2002 to the present. Preliminary estimates suggest that up to 100,000 players may have been affected.
FIFPRO informed of legal action
FIFPRO, the largest union representing professional players in Europe, issued a statement after learning about the lawsuit initiated by Justice for Players:
“FIFPRO Europe has been informed by the Dutch foundation Justice for Players of the launch of a class-action lawsuit against FIFA to seek compensation for damages suffered by all current and former players due to FIFA rules that were declared illegal by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in its ruling.”
FIFPRO stated that the creation of this foundation represents a practical and timely response to the Diarra decision, effectively centralizing the defense of the affected players’ interests — an issue with far-reaching implications for the soccer industry.
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They added: “Based on our founding principles and statutes, FIFPRO Europe recognizes the fundamental right of players to seek justice in what has been the most significant and enduring anti-competitive arrangement in the sports industry.”
FIFPRO concluded by stating that they, in coordination with FIFPRO global, will take time to thoroughly evaluate the foundation’s initiative, while affirming their commitment to supporting fair compensation for affected players. At the same time, they will continue pushing for inclusive and transparent governance reforms in international football, aiming to protect the rights of past, present, and future generations of players from arbitrary and unilateral decision-making processes that violate fundamental labor rights and fair competition.
