Your career, your choice
FIFA limits your freedom. We are reclaiming your rights.
FIFA’s transfer and termination of contract rules restrict your freedom as a footballer and limit your earnings. Justice for Players is committed to fighting for your right to work for a different club at a time of your choosing and to secure the compensation owed to you for the financial losses you have suffered so far as a result of FIFA’s restrictive rules governing transfers.
Background to this legal action
Since 2001, FIFA together with national football associations such as the KNVB, have adopted and enforced transfer rules that limit your freedom as a footballer and give them too much power. This negatively impacts your bargaining power when you wish to transfer clubs or renew with your current club. In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union concluded that FIFA’s rules are unlawful. In response to this, FIFA introduced temporary new rules in January 2025, but these fall far short and do not compensate for the damage you have suffered in the past.
The time has now come to take action in order to ensure that players are afforded the same right to freedom of movement as other professionals across the EU and to limit the power of FIFA and the national football associations. Just as Jean-Marc Bosman won his 1995 case and sparked real change, the moment has come for genuine reform. The damage FIFA’s rules have caused is immense.
Claim what is yours
Justice for Players is taking legal action against FIFA and the national football associations of the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark. Our mission is simple. To fight for the rights of former and current professional football players by ensuring that FIFA’s rules are changed so that players have the freedom to manage their careers and to secure compensation for players who earned less than they should have as a result of FIFA’s transfer rules.
FIFA’S transfer rules impact all professional footballers
Economists have estimated that professional footballers have earned on average approximately 8 percent less than they would have, had the rules not been so restrictive. This is the case for professional footballers from top players in the Premier League to contracted players in the lower divisions of countries like the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
Here you will find the answer to all your questions about the action
No, your participation is completely confidential. The information you upload will not be shared with FIFA, the national football associations, or your club. We treat your data with the utmost care and use it solely for the purpose for which you provided it. In some cases, the court may request access to this information. We will only share your information if it is strictly necessary for conducting the legal proceedings.
You can reach us at [email protected]. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
We use your personal information for the purposes of this lawsuit and for the purposes described in our privacy statement. We will never sell your data. All personal data will be deleted once the case ends. You can read our full privacy policy on the website.
Yes. You can cancel your registration within 60 days of signing the participation agreement. After that, your registration with the foundation becomes irrevocable. We explain this in the participation agreement. You can view and download the standard withdrawal form here.
Under The act on collective damages claims (WAMCA), the opt-out system applies. This means all players who suffered damages and are residing in the Netherlands at the time of a judgment on the admissibility of the foundation are automatically part of this lawsuit, unless they explicitly say they don’t want to be included. Players who are residents of the Netherlands don’t need to take any action to participate. Only if you don’t want to be represented by our foundation, you’ll need to file an opt-out declaration.
If you don’t reside in the Netherlands, but played for or transferred from, to or between European clubs, then this claim is also brought on your behalf. Because you are not a Dutch resident, you need to let us know that you want to join the action. You can sign up here.
If we succeed, we will need your details to pay you compensation.
Join now
Register now and reclaim your rights
FIFA’s transfer rules unlawfully restricted and still restrict your freedom to move between clubs when you wish to, and impact your bargaining power. Justice for Players is committed to ensure that footballers gain more power in relation to FIFA and the national football associations and receive fair compensation for the harm caused by these rules.
