Mamelodi Sundowns Can Report Clubs Allegedly Inducing Lucas Ribeiro Costa to FIFA, Says Legal Expert

Mamelodi Sundowns have the right to report any club believed to be inducing Lucas Ribeiro Costa to terminate his contract, according to legal expert Mpho Nkontlha of Nkontlha Attorneys. This comes after the Brazilian attacker indicated his intention to end his deal with the Tshwane giants while referencing the Diarra ruling in his correspondence with Sundowns.

In his letter, Ribeiro stated, “As a reminder, following the Diarra ruling, my next employer will not be involved in the dispute between me and Mamelodi Sundowns FC, neither from a disciplinary perspective nor financially.” This statement suggests concerns that an overseas club could be influencing the PSL Footballer of the Season to leave the defending champions.

Qatar SC has been linked with Ribeiro, reportedly making multiple bids that were rejected by Sundowns. Nkontlha explained that under FIFA statutes, Sundowns can lodge a complaint of inducement against any club attempting to influence a player’s contractual termination. Such an offence could result in sporting sanctions, including transfer bans. “The Qatari club also runs the risk of being slapped with a sanction by FIFA due to player inducement, which is palpable in this saga,” Nkontlha said.

Ribeiro is reportedly seeking to benefit from the temporary transfer amendments adopted by FIFA in January 2025, following a European Court of Justice ruling in the Lassana Diarra case. These amendments allow certain contractual disputes to be handled differently, potentially enabling players to move without the involvement of their current clubs.

However, Nkontlha cautioned that the Diarra ruling has not yet had a worldwide effect. “The only time in which the Diarra case would bind all national associations is upon declaration by FIFA, as was witnessed in the Bosman case,” he said. He added that it is premature for footballers to rely on case law when FIFA has not amended regulations to apply globally.

Nkontlha also raised concerns about external pressure on FIFA, noting that decisions by bodies such as the EU Parliament may not influence the governing body of world football. He described the situation as “akin to European soft neo-colonialism,” emphasizing that FIFA is unlikely to adopt legislative amendments based on rulings from independent or regional courts outside Europe.

This legal perspective underscores the potential risks for clubs attempting to induce a player to breach his contract and confirms Sundowns’ right to pursue action through FIFA. It also highlights the complex interaction between recent case law, temporary transfer amendments, and FIFA’s regulatory authority, which continues to govern international football transfers and player contracts.