Development in Portsmouth hero’s landmark fight which could yet revolutonise football
There’s been a development in the Pompey hero’s bitter battle with football’s governing body, but is that the end of the issue?
Pompey hero Lassana Diarra has reached a settlement with FIFA in their landmark legal row.
But the repercussions from the FA Cup winner’s legal battle with football’s governing body could yet be felt, after the £9.1m fine and 15-month ban he received in 2014.
No FIFA Diarra payout - but experts still think transfer system overhaul could happen
Diarra had been claiming £56m in damages from FIFA, after they stated he breached his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow ‘without just cause’.
FIFA have now confirmed an agreement has been reached and they have not paid the man who made 32 appearances at Fratton Park any compensation.
They said: ‘Following the global agreement they have reached, Mr Lassana Diarra and FIFA have settled all legal proceedings between them.
‘Fifa has not made any admission of liability nor payment by way of compensation. FIFAwill not be providing any further comment at this time.’
Despite the settlement, experts believe the impact from Diarra taking on FIFA in the long-running battle could still change the face of football and the game’s transfer system.
That’s after the European Court of Justice ruled in 2024 the way some transfers work break European laws.
The court ruled that FIFA rules ‘impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club’. That was after Diarra attempted to gain a move to Belgian outfit Charleroi in 2015.
That led to some rewriting of the game’s regulations, but some experts believe the legality of football’s entire transfer system has been called into question with others believing this settlement will be the end of the issue.
Diarra, of course, made a huge impact in his short time at Pompey after arriving from Arsenal for £5.5m in January 2008.
Many viewed the Frenchman as the high watermark for the Blues in terms of sheet quality in their seven years in the Premier League.
When signing Diarra, boss Harry Redknapp made it clear he didn’t expect to see Diarra remain at PO4 for an extended period such was the level of his talent.
And that proved to be the case with the player helping Pompey lift the FA Cup and achieve European football, before joining Spanish giants Real Madrid for a whopping £20m.
Diarra went onto play for the likes of Paris St Germain and Marseille, before his career drew to a close in 2019.