G14 v FIFA case referred to EU Court of Justice

[aka Dus]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4770193.stm

 

G14 'happy' as key case referred

 

The G14 group of leading football clubs say they are "very happy" a landmark court case has been referred to the European Court of Justice.

A Belgian court referred the case against Fifa, brought by Belgian club Charleroi with the backing of G14, to Europe's highest court in Luxembourg.

 

The case concerns Charleroi player Abdelmajid Oulmers who was injured while playing for Morocco in 2004.

 

G14 clubs want compensation when their players are injured in internationals.

 

Oulmers was sidelined for eight months after suffering his injury in Morocco's game against Burkina Faso in November 2004.

 

Charleroi say the loss of the player hindered their chances of success in the Belgian league and cup.

 

Fifa maintained there is no link between the injury of Oulmers and Charleroi's fifth-placed finish in the league.

 

G14 general manager Thomas Kurth said: "Fifa's argument was that its rules were not in any way subject to EU law.

 

"But we asked for a ruling at the European Court of Justice on these rules, which we've always said are unfair to every club, not just G14 members."

 

The G14 has already joined Olympique Lyon in a similar action over defender Eric Abidal, who broke his foot during a France friendly.

 

Clubs pay the wages of players, which can exceed £100,000 a week for the top performers.

 

Jean-Phillipe Lebeau, president of the commercial tribunal in Charleroi, said: "The European Court of Justice is the only court that can sufficiently decide this case, taking everything into account."

 

The last major case in football to be referred to the European Union's highest court also started in Belgium.

 

The 'Bosman' ruling, after a case brought by player Jean-Marc Bosman, gave players the choice to move freely between clubs when out of contract, thereby increasing player power.