The Independent report:
‘The powerful G14 group of elite European clubs, which includes Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, has joined a potentially landmark lawsuit by the Belgium club, Charleroi, against Fifa, football's world governing body, that could result in clubs being allowed to request compensation payments for players on international duty.
‘The case has been described as "Bosman-esque" for its potential to invalidate football's regulations. If successful, it could ultimately deprive international sides of many of their star players unless their clubs' financial demands are met.
‘Charleroi are suing Fifa because their Moroccan international, Abdelmajid Oulmers, sustained torn ankle ligaments while playing for his country against Burkina Faso last November and was subsequently unable to play for eight months. Charleroi claim that Fifa's player regulations governing international duty, which state no compensation is due to clubs by national associations for using players, let alone for players being injured during international matches, are illegal.
‘G14, which has already filed a legal complaint about the regulations with the Swiss authorities, added its considerable weight to Charleroi's case yesterday, announcing it was joining Charleroi's legal action.
‘"As it is G14's wish to seek a once and for all clarification if these regulations are legal, it is sensible for us to join this case," Thomas Kurth, G14's general manager, said. "Fifa's regulations come from a time when they were perhaps appropriate but many things have changed and we believe they may now infringe the law."’