The roots of this legal saga date back to 2014, when Diarra departed Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow just one year into a four-year contract. Following his exit, FIFA hit the midfielder with a massive 10 million euro fine, arguing that the contract had been terminated without “just cause.”
This move left the player in a difficult position, hampering his ability to find a new club as potential employers feared they would be held liable for the fine.
Diarra’s legal team argued that these regulations restricted a player’s freedom of movement and were fundamentally illegal. In a statement released on Monday, the global soccer body said: “Following the global agreement they have reached, Mr Lassana Diarra and FIFA have settled all legal proceedings between them.”
