BRUSSELS (AP) — FIFA rules on transfers can conflict with European Union legislation relating to competition and freedom of movement because they limit possibilities for players to change clubs, and for clubs to hire, a senior EU legal adviser said on Tuesday.
Advocate General Maciej Szpunar gave his opinion after French soccer player Lassana Diarra legally challenged FIFA rules.
The Diarra case went through FIFA judicial bodies before the 2016 election of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has made it a priority to modernize transfer market rules.
Former France international Diarra signed a four-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2013. The deal was terminated a year later after Diarra was unhappy with alleged pay cuts.
Lokomotiv Moscow applied to the FIFA dispute resolution chamber for compensation and the player submitted a counterclaim seeking compensation for unpaid wages. The Court of Arbitration for Sport found the Russian club terminated the contract with Diarra “with just cause” and the player was condemned to pay 10.5 million euros ($11.2 million).
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
Netanyahu's Cabinet votes to close Al Jazeera offices in Israel
'Violent' leader of Columbia University's anti
Southern California women sweep UCLA 3
Six killed in a 'foiled coup' in Congo, the army says
Orbán challenger in Hungary mobilizes thousands at a rare demonstration in a government stronghold
Home and Away star James Stewart's real
A look at commencement ceremonies as US campuses are roiled by protests over the Israel
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Government will treat elderly 'like criminals' under controversial new bank snooping law
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky
Former security guard convicted of killing unarmed man during an argument at a Memphis gas station