Victory for Player Rights – FPSD-14003

We are happy to announce another victory. In a recent case before the FIFA Football Tribunal’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), our legal team successfully represented a professional footballer (the Claimant) in a contractual dispute with his former club. The ruling, issued in favor of the Claimant, reinforces fair play in employment relations across international football.

Case Overview

Our client, the Claimant, entered into an employment agreement with the Club, having agreed on key terms such as the duration of the contract, salary, and a sign-on bonus. Although the Claimant fulfilled all professional duties, including training, travel, and match participation, the Club failed to pay the agreed monthly remuneration.

Despite attempts to resolve the matter informally, the Club only issued a partial sign-on bonus payment. It failed to settle the main financial obligations—monthly salaries—which led us to escalate the matter legally through FIFA’s dispute resolution mechanisms.

Actions taken

We presented a robust case based on::

• Swiss law, which governs FIFA employment disputes and allows for verbal or informal contracts when essential elements (work, pay, duration, and subordination) are met.
• Precedents from CAS and FIFA, confirming that conduct and communication between parties can create a valid contract.
• Substantial evidence, including communications, travel records, and match data, to confirm the Claimant’s engagement and performance.

We emphasized that the Claimant was transparent about his free-agent status and acted in good faith throughout the engagement. The Club, on the other hand, attempted to merge the sign-on bonus with salary payments—a move we demonstrated as both misleading and non-compliant with contractual norms.

The Tribunal’s Ruling

The DRC found that:

• A valid employment relationship existed.
• The Club failed to fulfill its payment obligations.
• The Claimant’s claims were legally and factually supported.

This victory showcases the importance of legal protection for players, particularly those operating internationally and without agent representation. It also emphasizes the role of clear conduct and mutual agreement in forming enforceable agreements to avoid contractual dispute, even in the absence of formal signatures.

Are you facing contractual disputes or unpaid settlements?

A.K.A. Lex Sportiva Law Office offers expert legal representation in football law and international sports arbitration.
Contact us today to protect your rights and enforce your agreements.