Opinion of the Advocate General in the case C-650/22

PRESS RELEASE No 78/24 Luxembourg, 30 April 2024 Advocate General’s Opinion in Case C-650/22 | FIFA AG Szpunar: Some FIFA rules on transfer of players may prove to be contrary to EU law These rules are of restrictive nature and may only be justified in specific circumstances A former professional footballer is challenging the rules governing contractual relations between players and clubs. The rules in question, entitled ‘Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players’ (RSTP), were adopted by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) – an association responsible for organising football competitions at world level. These rules that are implemented both by FIFA and by its member national football associations apply, among other things, to a situation where there is a dispute between a player and a club as to a termination of a contract without just cause. In such cases, that player and any club wishing to employ him are jointly and severally liable for any compensation due to his former club. The player and the new club are also liable to sporting and financial sanctions in case of non-compliance. Furthermore, the association to which the player’s former club belongs may refuse to deliver an International Transfer Certificate to the new association where the player’s new club is registered as long as the dispute with the former club is standing. The professional football player had signed for the Russian football club Lokomotiv...