FIFA pledges to amend player transfer rules

FIFA has pledged to launch formal negotiations with all stakeholders in the game to find a solution to some of the points that are obstructing the transfer system after the European Football Association ruled that some points of the transfer system for professional players appear to be illegal. FIFA said in a statement: "We will start a comprehensive dialogue on Article 17 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players following the ruling in the case of former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain player Lassana Diarra." The statement added: "The focus will be primarily on possible amendments to Article 17 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, and the dialogue will include key players in the football system from around the world." It continued: "This step comes in the wake of the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Diarra case, and is in line with FIFA's strategic objective of advancing the process of improving the transfer system, which has seen significant progress since 2016." This comes after Lassana Diarra won a ruling against FIFA regarding player transfer regulations, after the European Court of Justice supported the player in the dispute that had been ongoing between him and FIFA since 2014. FIFA prevented Diarra from signing for Belgian club Charleroi, after he unilaterally terminated his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow due to unpaid debts to the Russian team, and the player was also fined 10 million euros.