'The system is dead' - Diarra law firm hails ECJ ruling on transfers

The law firm representing French player Lassana Diarra has hailed the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on FIFA transfer regulations a huge success which will lead to big changes.

"Stripped of its heart, the system is dead," law firm Dupont-Hissel said in a email statement to dpa on Saturday.

It said the ECJ "has condemned, in very clear and harsh terms, the provisions at the heart of the transfer system set up and managed by FIFA."

The ECJ had ruled on Friday that some regulations of world governing body FIFA's transfer regulations "hinder the free movement of players and competition between clubs."

The Diarra case centred on terminating his contract at Lokomotiv Moscow without just cause in 2014, according to the Russian club.

Under FIFA regulations, a player has to pay the past club compensation, and any new club would also be liable, which was backed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Diarra had claimed unpaid wages from Lok and then compensation via a Belgian court because a move to Belgian club Charleroi fell through because of the FIFA rules.

The final ruling will be with the Belgian court but it has to follow the ECJ guidelines.

FIFA said it was "satisfied" with the ECJ decision because it "only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles."

But Dupont-Hissel said the ruling has opened the door for "truly democratic modern governance" in the form of collective agreements between players' union FIFPRO and organizations representing clubs.

It also said that not only Diarra but all affected players around the world could now seek compensation via class action, which FIFPRO has suggested could happen.

"FIFA's wrongdoing has been established and the principle that all the players suffered damages has also been established. The only remaining debates is about the quantum," Dupont-Hissel said.