Luxembourg, 29/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The case of the Hungarian football player, Tibor Balog is over, as the parties reached an amicable agreement and the Court of Charleroi (Belgium) noted that the "prejudicial issue" that it had put to the European Court of Justice had become null and void. This Thursday's hearing, at which Advocate General Ms. Stix Hackl, would have had to present her conclusions, has consequently been annulled, and the Court need no longer deliberate.
On expiry of his contract with the Club of Charleroi, Mr. Balog had been unable to benefit from the effects f the Bosman ruling (concerning the illicit nature of transfer fees) as he was not a national of the EU or the EEA. The Club of Charleroi called for compensation to authorise him to play for another club. Mr. Balog had lodged a complaint before the Court of first Instance of Charleroi, which, before deliberating, had put a prejudicial question to the European Court, asking if the compensation demanded was licit. Wednesday 28 March, the International Football Federation, FIFA, announced that an agreement had been reached with the player, and the Court of Charleroi made a preliminary ruling the same day noting that its prejudicial question had become null and void.
EUROPE recalls that the new provisions agreed between the world of football and the services of the European Commission on the international transfer regime for football players will, in principle, cover all countries and not only those of the EU and EEA. They will take effect from the next sporting season (2001-2002).