Your career, your choice
THE FA’S AND FIFA LIMIT 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 the 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 the national football associations and 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 that the national football associations and FIFA’s rules have caused is immense.
As seen on
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 secure compensation for players who earned less than they should have as a result of the national football associations and 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
We hope to retrieve fair compensation for players who have suffered financial losses as a result of the national football associations’ and FIFA’s restrictive transfer rules.
Justice for Players welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and FIFPRO. Any reform that strengthens players’ rights and brings the transfer system into line with European law is a positive development. However, the Memorandum does not compensate the professional footballers who suffered financial losses under the national football associations and FIFA’s unlawful transfer rules. Our focus is therefore now on obtaining compensation for those players. For more information, please see our detailed press release here.
In the Diarra-judgement, the European Court of Justice ruled that certain FIFA rules violate European law. The Court also said that the national football associations, together with FIFA, qualify as a single “undertaking” under EU law. This means that FIFA and the national associations are seen as a group of entities that act as one economic organization because one party has decisive control. Under European law, this makes all national football associations, together with FIFA, responsible for any damage caused by the FIFA rules.
The national football associations were also involved in creating the FIFA rules that were found to be against European law. They have influence over decisions within FIFA (through the FIFA Congress and the FIFA Council). In addition, they enforce the FIFA rules. For example, national associations had to issue the International Transfer Certificate when a player wanted to transfer to a club in another country — a requirement the European court said was incompatible with EU law.
For these reasons, Justice for Players also includes the national football associations in this collective action. Justice for Players does not involve all national associations, because that is not necessary and would make the case much more expensive. Instead, it chose five associations that have a big impact on the football market and that, together with FIFA, can help make the transfer system fairer.
Deminor covers the full cost of the legal action in first instance, including all legal, expert and operational expenses of the foundation.
No, your name and the details you upload will not be shared with FIFA, the national football associations or your club.
SFAA
Professional football agents’ organization SFAA announced their support for the Justice for Players class action against KNVB, FIFA and several national football associations.
BOEFA
Professional football agents’ organization BOEFA announced their support for the Justice for Players class action against KNVB, FIFA and several national football
associations.
Hungarian professional footballers’ association (HLSZ)
Hungarian professional footballers’ association (HLSZ) announced its support for the Justice for Players class action against KNVB, FIFA and several national football associations.
Norwegian professional footballers’ association
Norwegian professional footballers’ association (NISO) announced its support for the Justice for Players class action against KNVB, FIFA and several national football associations.
Spelarföreningen Fotboll i Sverige (SFS)
Swedish player’s union Spelarföreningen Fotboll i Sverige (SFS) announced its support for the Justice for Players class action against KNVB, FIFA and several national football associations.
Associazione Italiana Calciatori (AIC)
Italian Footballers’ Association Associazione Italiana Calciatori (AIC) announced its support for the Justice for Players class action against KNVB, FIFA and several national football associations.
Futbolistas ON
Spanish Players’Union Futbolistas ON Announces Its Support For Justice For Players, Following Support From fourteen European Players’ Unions
The Finnish Football Players’ Association (FPA)
The Finnish Football Players’ Association Announces Its Support For Justice For Players, Following Support From Thirteen European Players’ Unions.
PFA Lithuania
The Association of Professional Football Players of Lithuania (PFA Lithuania) Announces Its Support For Justice for Players, Following Support From Twelve European Players’ Unions
Spillerforeningen
Spillerforeningen (SPFO) announced today its support for the Justice for Players class action against KNVB, FIFA and several national football associations.
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.
