Ex-France and Real Madrid star seeks whopping £56m in compensation from FIFA - after winning landmark ruling last year

Former France and Real Madrid footballer Lassana Diarra has resumed legal action against FIFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) seeking compensation. This follows a European court ruling in his favour against FIFA last year.

The dispute originates from 2014 when Diarra terminated his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow after the Russian club attempted to reduce his salary based on his performances. FIFA ordered him to pay £8.8 million (10.5 million euros) for breach of contract and imposed a 15-month playing ban.

This ban prevented his transfer to Belgian club Charleroi, as FIFA refused to issue the required International Transfer Certificate and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA's decision. Diarra launched legal action in 2015, arguing FIFA's actions violated European labour laws by preventing him from working.

In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that certain FIFA transfer regulations did indeed breach European Union legislation, setting the stage for Diarra's renewed compensation claim.