LUXEMBOURG: JEAN MARC BOSMAN VERDICT

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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Eng/French/Nat European football faces its biggest shake-up after the European Court ruled the game's current transfer system and quotas on foreign players illegal. On Friday the European Court of Justice backed an interim finding three months ago that the two systems contravene European Union law and should be abolished. The ruling marked a victory for Belgian player Jean-Marc Bosman, who filed suit five years ago challenging the system whereby clubs buy and sell players like commodities. A tired but exuberant Jean-Marc Bosman compared his battle to climbing an enormous mountain. On Friday the Belgian football player scaled that mountain after the European Union court ruled the current transfer system and quotas on foreign players illegal. Under the current system, players are sold from one club to another for a transfer fee, even after their contracts have run out. But Friday's watershed decision effectively means that players will become free agents once their contracts expire. The court ruling applies only to transfers between clubs in different countries. However, domestic transfer markets will be under pressure to adopt the same system. The ruling also frees players from nationality limits in the 15-nation European Union. SOUNDBITE: (French) "Article 48 of the EEC treaty precludes the application of rules laid down by sporting associations under which a professional football player who is a national of one member state may not on expiry of his contract with a club be employed by a club of another member state unless the latter club has paid to the former club a transfer training or development fee. The direct effect of article 48 of the EEC treaty cannot be relied upon in support of claims relating to a fee in respect of transfer, training or development which has already been paid for." SUPERCAPTION: Jil Carlos Rodriguez Iglesias, President of Court SOUNDBITE: (French) "Since article 48 which condemned the system of transfer between football clubs, was applied we no longer have to discuss article 85." SUPERCAPTION: Jean Luc Dupont, lawyer Bosman initiated his lawsuit against the soccer authorities in 1990 when the current rules forbade him going to the club of his choice after his contract with Belgian club F-C Liege expired and he was forced to accept lower wages. SOUNDBITE: (French) "I have fought this battle for five years alone - because if I had counted on the solidarity of professional footballers, I wouldn't have got to this point. It is certainly thanks to the team we have here - my lawyers supported me, at certain times exceptionally. I feel as if I have arrived at the top of a mountain. Now I will come down calmly. But I am very tired and I hope I will have the support of the other players." SUPER CAPTION: Jean Marc Bosman Pushed to extremes, Friday's judgement means rich teams like AC Milan could now field as many foreigners as they wish and seek free-agent stars or prodigies without having to pay the old club anything. Supporters of smaller clubs fear it will put them out of business by cutting off a major source of income. Ironically the decision may also mean less freedom for players as clubs try to tie them into longer contracts. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/85aa897ce892a448731768b3a7324ac8 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork