The impact of FIFA's suspension of cases before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee - Key Takeaways

On 25 November 2024, a letter was issued by the Chairperson of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to the FIFA Secretary General temporarily suspending the following disciplinary measures (“Letter”):

1. “Any disciplinary measures against players related to the enforcement of financial entitlements awarded based on article 17 RSTP;

2. Any disciplinary measures against coaches related to the enforcement of financial entitlements awarded based on article 6 Annexe 2 RSTP;

3. Any disciplinary measures against clubs based on the joint and several liability foreseen in article 17 para. 2 RSTP;

4. The above includes cases where, following a decision of the Football Tribunal, a subsequent decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has been rendered based on art. 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), ed. 2023 or on art. 15 FDC, ed. 2019;

5. The above is without prejudice to a possible later reinstatement of such measures and does not constitute any admission of illegality of such disciplinary measures.”

The temporary suspension was implemented “in light of the judgment issued by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the case C- 650/22 concerning the matter “Diarra”, as well as the currently on-going Global Dialogue initiated by FIFA to conduct a worldwide consultation regarding possible changes to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP)” .

LawInSport hosted a webinar on December 9, 2024, to analyse and provide clarity on the implications of the Letter. The webinar brought together experts to discuss the legal, regulatory, and practical implications of this development.

Speakers

The speakers for this webinar were:

• Jaime Cambreleng Contreras, Partner, Cavaliero & Cambreleng

Previously, Jaime worked in the FIFA Disciplinary Department since 2014, becoming the head in 2017 until 2018,  Head of Litigation for 3 years, 2019 - 2021 (where he defended decisions of the FIFA Football Tribunal and FIFA Disciplinary Committee, amongst others). 

• Paolo Lombardi, Founder and Managing Director, Lombardi Associates

Previously, Paolo was Head of FIFA Disciplinary from 2007 to 2010. Prior to being appointed Head of the FIFA Disciplinary Department, Paolo worked with the FIFA Players' Status Department, becoming Deputy Head in 2006.

• Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport (moderator)

The recording of the webinar is available here.