City, State/Country
Make we gree, when matter don dey hot like this, e no dey easy! Former France midfielder, Lassana Diarra, don waka come out again to face FIFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) for court, dey seek hefty £56 million as compensation. Na since 2014, this guy don dey struggle with FIFA rules wey him dey claim don mess up him career.
Last year, European Court of Justice (CJEU) talk say some of FIFA’s transfer rules no abide by EU law, but na only so far FIFA don change di law, no real amends for Diarra side o! The man don tire for dis case wey don drag enter eleven years. E don talk say he dey fight dis battle not just for him, but for all di up-and-coming players wey no get money or gidi gidi to challenge FIFA.
We go remember, e start all dis wahala when Lokomotiv Moscow terminate him contract back in 2014. FIFA come dey order say make Diarra pay £8.4 million to di Russian club for breaching contract wey di man no fit keep anymore. As if dat one no bad enough, dem also ban am for 15 months!
Now, Diarra dey claim say di problems wey come from FIFA rules don affect him ability to move freely around. E no fit join Belgian club Charleroi because FIFA no grant am di International Transfer Certificate. Na wetin dem call ‘impede the free movement’ of players.
He talk say e don dey wait for amicable settlement for some months, but na wah – FIFA no show face. A spokesperson from FIFA don even talk say dem dey work to change di regulations following CJEU verdict, but so far, dem gree say dem no go comment on any ongoing legal matters.
Diarra no dey solo for dis matter; e get support from di professional footballers’ unions wey stand behind am. FIFPro and others dey by him side, dey ready to fight. Diarra dey seek €65 million ($76 million) wey go cover di damage wey FIFA rules cause since dis whole drama start.
As di legal battle dey unfold, lawyers estimate say all players wey don experience dis kind wahala for dis period fit lose lifetime earnings wey reach 8%. Diarra continue say he dey fight because plenty players no get di resources to challenge FIFA like him.
Now, di case don return to di Belgian courts and dem expect verdict between 12 to 15 months – long journey wey don start since 2014. Omo, no be small tin o! Make we dey watch dis case as e dey unfold, because e fit change wetin we dey see for football world, especially in di area of player rights.
