Lassana Diarra discusses potential changes to transfer rules

Lassana Diarra, a former football player, recently shared his views on the impact of a legal ruling that bears his name. He was a guest on the show "The Bridge" and explained how this ruling could change the transfer market in football. The "Diarra ruling" addresses issues with FIFA's transfer rules, which Diarra believes go against European Union law. He criticized how players can be stuck in contracts with clubs that demand high fees for players who are not even playing. He suggested that players should have the right to negotiate their departure more freely. Diarra provided an example: if a player has two years left on their contract but is not active, they should be able to talk to their club about a transfer without facing unreasonable fees. He mentioned that the European Court ruled in his favor, and discussions are ongoing with unions to reach agreements on transfer rules. He recalled that at the time of his dispute, the media coverage was not in his favor. Now, he feels a sense of victory and believes he has contributed significantly to modern football. Despite his achievements, he feels that many players do not realize the importance of what he has accomplished. Diarra once left a Moscow club due to a drastic salary cut. The club claimed the termination was unfair and demanded a large sum, which affected other teams' willingness to sign him. Following the European Court's decision, new rules must be established by FIFA to align with European labor laws, which is a temporary measure until more permanent rules are created.