Player Advocacy Group Says FIFA-FIFPro Deal Fails to Address Compensation for Former Players
A player advocacy organization is urging FIFA to address compensation claims from thousands of current and former professional footballers, arguing that a newly announced agreement between FIFA and the global players’ union does not provide redress for losses allegedly caused by transfer rules found unlawful by Europe’s highest court.
Justice for Players issued the statement following the announcement that FIFA and FIFPro had signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a new framework for collaboration on the future governance of professional football.
The organization welcomed efforts to strengthen players’ rights and reform football’s transfer system but said the agreement does not address the interests of players who competed under transfer regulations in place from 2002 through the present.
The criticism stems from a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the case involving former French international Lassana Diarra. The court found that key elements of FIFA’s transfer rules unlawfully restricted the free movement of players and violated European Union competition law.
According to Justice for Players, independent economic analyses have concluded that the restrictions reduced player earnings by an average of 8% over the course of their careers. The organization contends that the cumulative financial impact on affected players amounts to billions of euros.
The statement came days after FIFA reached a settlement with Diarra, whose legal challenge led to the landmark ruling. Justice for Players argued that the settlement, coupled with the memorandum of understanding with FIFPro, demonstrates FIFA’s recognition that changes to the transfer system were necessary.
However, the organization said neither development addresses compensation for players who were affected by the transfer rules during the past two decades.
“A new era for the future must not come at the cost of justice for the past,” Lucia Melcherts, chair of Justice for Players, said in a statement. “Players who lost income over more than twenty years have the right to seek compensation for the losses they have already suffered. Not only better rules going forward.”
Justice for Players said it expects national players’ unions to continue supporting current and former professionals who have joined legal efforts seeking compensation related to the transfer rules.
The organization said registration remains open for players interested in participating in its collective legal action.
FIFA and FIFPro have described their memorandum as a framework for future cooperation on issues affecting professional football and player representation. The agreement comes amid broader discussions about player welfare, transfer regulations and governance reforms following the European court’s ruling in the Diarra case.