Agreement between FIFA and Lassana Diarra
Former French midfielder Lassana Diarra’s lawsuit against FIFA for 65 million euros ($75 million) was settled without the governing body making any payment. This was reported on Monday by FIFA in a statement.
“FIFA and Mr. Lassana Diarra have resolved all legal proceedings between them following the global agreement they have reached. FIFA has not made any admission of liability nor has it made any payment in compensation,” the entity said.
The former Arsenal, Real Madrid and PSG player filed the claim in 2024, after obtaining a significant ruling from the European Court of Justice on transfer rules. That ruling declared that certain FIFA rules violated the free movement of players and competition law in the EU.
Background of the litigation
The legal dispute originated in 2014, when the relationship between Diarra and Lokomotiv Moscow deteriorated. FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favor of the Russian club, determining that the player terminated his contract without just cause. This meant that Diarra and any team interested in signing him had to pay 10.5 million euros.
It is not yet clear whether the agreement reached will affect the class action lawsuit promoted by Diarra’s lawyers, derived from the European case. A reaction is expected from the Belgian law firm Dupont Hissel, which represents the former soccer player.




