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Arbitration & Labor Disputes

In the modern world of professional sports, the legal relationships between players, clubs, and agents are universally governed by employment contracts. These contracts are essential to the operation of the sports industry but, like any agreement, they are prone to disputes.

Common Disputes in Employment Contracts
Contractual disputes can arise from a variety of situations, including:

  • Failure to meet agreed conditions or obligations.
  • Unilateral breach of contract by players or clubs.
  • Unfair termination of employment contracts.
  • Disputes over wages, bonuses, or transfer fees.

Resolving Disputes Through Arbitration
In the global business of sports, disputes are typically resolved through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, which include:

  • The Dispute Resolution Chambers (DRCs) of global governing bodies like FIFA and FIBA for international disputes.
  • National Dispute Resolution Chambers (NDRCs) mandated by governing bodies to address disputes at the domestic level.

Appeals against decisions by sports governing bodies are often referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an independent organization specializing in the arbitration and mediation of sports-related disputes. CAS has become the global hub for sports arbitration, handling cases ranging from contract disputes to disciplinary matters.

Key features of CAS arbitration include:

  • The same enforceability as judgments by ordinary courts or arbitration mechanisms.
  • The ability to adjudicate not only appeals but also first-instance disputes between players, clubs, and other sports stakeholders.
  • A neutral and expedited process designed to meet the unique needs of the sports industry.

Our Expertise
At Nir Inbar Sports Law & Business, we bring extensive experience and a stellar reputation in managing and resolving sports-related disputes both domestically and internationally. Our team:

  • Represents players, clubs, and agents in arbitration proceedings before CAS, FIFA and other international tribunals.
  • Advises on the enforceability of arbitration awards and assists in their execution globally.
  • Provides strategic counsel to clients, ensuring disputes are resolved efficiently and with minimal disruption to their careers or operations.

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3 Things you should know about

Arbitration & Labor Disputes

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  • The Club does not pay my salaries as agreed. What can I do about it?faq-plus-btn.svg

    If you are a professional player or a coach and your club is not paying your salary as agreed upon in your contract, you have a few options for seeking recourse. One option is to try to negotiate with the club to try to resolve the issue amicably.
    If that is not successful, in case of a domestic dispute you may be able to file a complaint with the national soccer association or federation in your country. The association or federation may be able to help mediate the dispute and facilitate a resolution.

    In case of an international dimension dispute, you may be able to file a claim with the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) or the FIFA Players' Status Committee at the FIFA Football Tribunal. These bodies have the authority to rule on disputes between players/coaches and clubs, and they have the power to order clubs to pay unpaid salaries and other outstanding amounts owed to players.

  • What is the FIFA Tribunal? faq-plus-btn.svg

    The FIFA Tribunal is an independent judicial body that is responsible for resolving disputes within the world of international football. It was established by FIFA in 2011, and it is responsible for hearing cases related to the rules and regulations of the organization, as well as disputes between member organizations and individuals. The Tribunal is composed of a panel of judges who are selected by the FIFA Executive Committee and who serve on a part-time basis. It is empowered to hear cases involving a wide range of issues, including transfers, labor disputes, match-fixing, and misconduct by players, coaches, and officials. The decisions of the Tribunal are final and binding, and they can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

  • What is the CAS?faq-plus-btn.svg

    The Court of arbitration for sport (CAS) is an independent institution based in Lausanne, Switzerland, which provides arbitration and mediation services to the international sports community. It was established in 1984 to provide a forum for the resolution of disputes arising from the participation of athletes in international sporting events, as well as disputes between sports organizations and athletes. The CAS is composed of a panel of arbitrators and mediators who are experts in sports law, and it operates according to the rules of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS). The CAS has the authority to hear and decide cases involving doping, eligibility, transfer of athletes, and other issues related to the governance of sports. It is widely recognized as the final authority in sports-related disputes, and its decisions are binding on all parties involved.

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