FIFA Wins Court Ruling to Ban Third-Party Ownership

FIFA has won its battle to uphold a ban third-party ownership (TPO) in football after winning a ruling from a Belgian court. Doyen Sports Investments, Belgian second-division club Seraing United took the case to the court against FIFA, UEFA and the Belgian FA for a temporary injunction to suspend the implementation of the worldwide ban on TP.

 FIFA’s opposition to the plea was supported by the players’ union FIFPro.

A statement quoting the court ruling said: “The tribunal held that the applicants had failed to prove their allegations that upon initial examination, the ban contravened EU law or was disproportionate to the attainment of the legitimate objectives sought by the introduction of this new regulation, such as the protection of players and the integrity of the game.”

 UEFA president Michel Platini recently reiterated his opposition to TPO.

Platini stated that “TPO turns money of the clubs into the money of individuals, so the clubs stay poor and the individuals become rich.

“The transfer system is not being used to improve teams, but to take money out of football. That’s why TPO is a scandal .”