Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Bosman
Case C-415/93 [1995] ECR I-4921
Ratio Decidendi
Rules requiring transfer fees for out-of-contract players, and rules limiting the number of EU nationals a club may field, constitute restrictions on the free movement of workers contrary to what is now Article 45 TFEU.
ਤੱਥ
Jean-Marc Bosman, a Belgian footballer, was prevented from moving to a French club when his contract expired because his club demanded a transfer fee the French club would not pay. Bosman challenged the transfer system and nationality quotas under EU law.
ਫੈਸਲੇ ਦਾ ਸਾਰ
The CJEU held that requiring transfer fees for out-of-contract players was a restriction on free movement of workers that could not be justified. Nationality quotas limiting the number of EU players a club could field were also unlawful.
ਮੁੱਖ ਹਵਾਲੇ
"Article 48 of the Treaty precludes the application of rules which require transfer fees to be paid where a player whose contract has expired moves to a club in another Member State."
— Court of Justice
ਬਾਅਦ ਦਾ ਇਲਾਜ
Transformed European football by ending the transfer fee system for out-of-contract players.
Applied to other sports in subsequent cases (e.g., Lehtonen on basketball).