The court made the ruling yesterday after a case involving the Spanish soccer association.
The top EU court ruled the association had discriminated against Russian player Igor Simutenkov, of Deportivo Tenerife, after imposing a limit on the number of players from outside the EU who can play in league games.
The court explained its decision by stating the existence of a partnership agreement between the EU and Russia meant Simutenkov and his fellow Russian players, should receive the same rights as those originating from within the EU.
The European Court of Justice has ruled Russian soccer players must be treated in line with other players from the EU.
