Cristiano Ronaldo tells Al-Nassr chiefs to make Kevin De Bruyne transfer offer he can’t refuse to leave Man City

FORMER Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra has won his landmark case at the European Court of Justice.

SunSport's Martin Lipton explains what it was all about - and what it might mean for the future of football...

What was the case about?

Diarra argued Fifa’s transfer rules were illegal after the world body backed Lokomotiv Moscow’s claim that he had broken his contract by refusing to train with them.

Is that it?

No. Belgian club Charleroi wanted to sign Diarra but were told they would have to pay the money he was fined by Moscow, while Fifa refused to issue an International Transfer Certificate unless they coughed up.

Okay, so what does the ruling mean?

Theoretically players will have the right to break their contracts and switch clubs without a fee changing hands - just like any employee in any other industry.

Hang on - does that mean the END of transfer fees?

Potentially, yes. Although players would have to want to move.

We would basically end up with a US-style “collective bargaining” model where players would be free to move within transfer windows without impunity.

Clubs might be able to “trade” players - swap deals - but with no extra cash changing hands.

Is everybody agreed about this?

Absolutely not. Fifa claimed the ruling “only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles” of its transfer regulations.

Yet the Judges said the current rules were “prohibited” under EU law and “anti-competitive” as they “limit the freedom of action” of players to change employer.

Read SunSport's full Q&A with football on the brink of the biggest shake-up in 30 years...