DRC Overdue Payables
Texto da decisão
REF FPSD-7858
Decision of the
Dispute Resolution Chamber
passed on 11 January 2023
regarding an employment-related dispute concerning the player Andrey
Buyvolov
BY:
Gonzalo de Medinilla (Spain), Single Judge of the DRC
CLAIMANT:
Andrey Buyvolov, Russia
RESPONDENT:
Shakhter, Kazakhstan
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I. Facts of the case
1.
On 27 January 2021, the Russian player, Andrey Buyvolov (hereinafter: Claimant or player)
and the Kazakh club, Shakhter (hereinafter: club or Respondent) concluded an
employment contract (hereinafter: contract) valid as from 27 January 2021 until 30
November 2021.
2.
According to the contract, the Respondent undertook to pay the Claimant a monthly
salary of Kazakhstan Tenge (KZT) 800,000 net, payable until the 10th day of the following
month.
3.
Art. 3.5 of the contract reads as follows: “The Club may establish bonus payments to the
Employee for the achieved sports results, however the maximum amount of such bonuses shall
be paid to the Employee only provided that he has not violated this Agreement, whereof an
Additional Agreement shall be signed between the Parties. If the Employee commits violations,
these bonus payments may be reduced in the relevant month in accordance with the terms of
Annex No. 1.”
4.
Art. 2 of Annex 2 of the contract establishes: “For the proper fulfillment by the Employee of
obligations under this Employment Agreement, the Employer shall pay the Employee a monthly
amount of money from sponsorship funds in proportion to the hours worked in the following
amount: Three million two hundred thousand (3,200,000) tenge (“net”).”
5.
Art. 2.6.16 of the contract states: “At its own expense, provide preventive, preliminary, and
mandatory medical/dental examinations of the Employee in a timely manner, as well as, if
required, provide medical treatment of the Employee by qualified personnel during the
performance of his work duties.”
6.
On 16 November 2021, the club issued a “letter of guarantee” to the player, according to
which the Respondent guaranteed to pay the bonus related to the “participation in the
OLIMPBET Championship of the Republic of Kazakhstan among the Premier League teams and
Cup of the Republic of Kazakhstan” in the amount of KZT 1,690.625 until 20 February 2022.
7.
On 18 August 2022, the Claimant put the Respondent in default and requested payment
of KZT 1,915,808 as part of his salary for November 2021 and KZT 1,690,625 as bonus
related to the guarantee letter. Furthermore, the player requested to be reimbursed for
his medical costs in the amount of EUR 16,602. He requested payment within 10 days.
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8.
On 6 September 2022, the club replied to the player stating that
- The player was absent between 8 November 2021 and 12 November 2021 (5
days) and 19 November 2021 until 27 November 2021 (9 days), which resulted
in an entitlement of KZT 2,041,288 since the participation on the sponsorship
funds were paid in proportion to the hours worked. According to the club this
amount was remitted to the player.
- The guarantee letter was conditioned on receiving sponsorship funds and
served more as an indication. Since the funds were not received, said payment
was not remitted.
- The club was not aware of the medical treatment and only medical treatment
within the club was covered.
II. Proceedings before FIFA
9.
On 13 October 2022, the Claimant filed the claim at hand before FIFA. A brief summary
of the position of the parties is detailed in continuation.
a. Position of the Claimant
10. In his claim, the Claimant requested payment of the following monies:
- KZT 1,915,808 as parts of the salary of November 2021, plus 5 % interest p.a. as
of 1 December 2021;
- KZT 1,690,625 as outstanding bonus, plus 5% interest p.a. as of 21 February
2022;
- EUR 16,602 as reimbursement for medical costs, plus 5% interest p.a. as of 30
August 2022.
11. In his claim, the player argued that the club failed to remit the claimed amounts upon
expiry of the contract.
12. The player denied having been absent for 14 days as argued by the Respondent. In this
regard, he stated that after the official match on 6 November 2021, the club “factually
allowed all the football players to leave the Club and go home.”
13. Further, the player held that the club never requested him to return.
14. As to the outstanding bonus, the player held that such amount was acknowledged with
the guarantee letter dated 16 November 2021, and fell due on 20 February 2022, as
promised. He insisted that the guarantee letter was not conditional.
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15. Regarding the injury, the player clarified that it occurred during the contractual
relationship. In this regard, the player submitted the following documents:
- Report regarding an MRI scan done in Russia on 8 November 2021;
- WhatsApp conversation with the club’s doctor dated 12 and 13 November 2021,
where the injury and its treatment are discussed;
- Invoice with payment slips regarding the amount of EUR 16,602 issued from a
hospital in Roma, Italy, where the surgery took place on 29 November 2021.
16. The player held that the club has the obligation to cover the costs regarding the injury
occurred during the contract, and he referred to art. 2.6.16 of the contract.
b. Position of the Respondent
17. In its reply, the club rejected the player’s claim.
18. The club insisted that it fulfilled its financial obligation towards the player with its payment
of KZT 2,041,288 taking into account the absence of the player as mentioned in the
correspondence. In this regard, the club submitted a letter of the Kazakh migration office
confirming that the player left the country as alleged.
19. In this regard, the club specified that the participation of the sponsorship funds was paid
in “proportion to hours worked” and therefore was not the total amount due.
20. The Respondent presented payment receipts from past months showing that not the
total amount of KZT 3,200,000 was paid, but the pro rata part in accordance with the days
worked, which applied only for the sponsorship funds, but not to the basic salary.
21. Regarding the costs of the surgery in Italy, the club held that the player should have
requested confirmation in writing before having the surgery there.
22. The club held that the conversation extract with the club’s doctor submitted does not
contain the advice to undergo surgery in Italy.
23. On account of the above, the club held not having to reimburse the costs for medical
treatment.
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III. Considerations of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
a. Competence and applicable legal framework
1.
First of all, the Single Judge (hereinafter also referred to as Single Judge) analysed whether
he was competent to deal with the case at hand. In this respect, he took note that the
present matter was presented to FIFA on 13 October 2022 and submitted for decision on
11 January 2023. Taking into account the wording of art. 34 of the October 2022 edition
of the Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal (hereinafter: the Procedural
Rules), the aforementioned edition of the Procedural Rules is applicable to the matter at
hand.
2.
Subsequently, the Single Judge referred to art. 2 par. 1 and art. 24 par. 1 lit. a) of the
Procedural Rules and observed that in accordance with art. 23 par. 1 in combination with
art. 22 par. 1 lit. b) of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (October 2022),
he is competent to deal with the matter at stake, which concerns an employment-related
dispute with an international dimension between a Belarusian player and a Kazakh club.
3.
Subsequently, the Single Judge analysed which regulations should be applicable as to the
substance of the matter. In this respect, he confirmed that, in accordance with art. 26 par.
1 and 2 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (October 2022 edition),
and considering that the present claim was lodged on 10 October 2022, the July 2022
edition of said regulations (hereinafter: the Regulations) is applicable to the matter at hand
as to the substance.
b. Burden of proof
4.
The Single Judge recalled the basic principle of burden of proof, as stipulated in art. 13
par. 5 of the Procedural Rules, according to which a party claiming a right on the basis of
an alleged fact shall carry the respective burden of proof. Likewise, the Single Judge
stressed the wording of art. 13 par. 4 of the Procedural Rules, pursuant to which it may
consider evidence not filed by the parties, including without limitation the evidence
generated by or within the Transfer Matching System (TMS).
c. Merits of the dispute
5.
Its competence and the applicable regulations having been established, the Single Judge
entered into the merits of the dispute. In this respect, the Single Judge started by
acknowledging all the above-mentioned facts as well as the arguments and the
documentation on file. However, the Single Judge emphasised that in the following
considerations it will refer only to the facts, arguments and documentary evidence, which
it considered pertinent for the assessment of the matter at hand.
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i. Main legal discussion and considerations
6.
The foregoing having been established, the Single Judge moved to the substance of the
matter, and took note of the fact that the parties dispute if the Claimant is entitled to the
outstanding remuneration claimed.
7.
The Single Judge noted that the Respondent argued that the salary of November 2021
was duly paid since he was absent during the month, that the guarantee letter was
conditional and therefore not due and that it did not have the obligation the player for
the medical costs as he did not follow the due procedure for the treatment.
8.
In this regard, the Single Judge recalled that in the case at hand the Respondent bore the
burden of proving that it indeed complied with the financial terms of the contract
concluded between the parties.
9.
As to the partial salary for November 2021, due to the player’s undisputed absence, the
Single Judge had to establish if the player was entitled to receive the full amount of the
sponsorship funds as salary or the pro-rata part in accordance with his presence.
10. Therefore, based on the wording of the contract and since it only concerns the additional
part of his salary and not the basic salary (which was fully paid), the Single Judge decided
to follow the club’s argumentation and reject the player’s claim in this regard.
11. However, the Single Judge duly noted that the club issued a guarantee letter regarding a
bonus to be paid on 20 February 2022 and finally failed to do so. Since the contract
foresees bonus payments and the club acknowledged them, the Single Judge had no
other option than to award the player this amount. In doing so, the Single Judge rejected
the club’s argument that said bonus was “conditional”.
12. Furthermore, the Single Judge found that the reimbursement of medical costs of the
player is substantiated and clearly occurred during the contractual relationship. The
player informed the club’s doctor. Therefore, based on the contractual provisions and the
receipts provided, the Single Judge decided to award those amounts as medical
reimbursements to the player.
ii. Consequences
13. As a consequence, and in accordance with the general legal principle of pacta sunt
servanda, the Single Judge decided that the Respondent is liable to pay to the Claimant
the amount of KZT 1,690,625 as outstanding bonus and EUR 16,602 as reimbursement
for medical costs.
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14. In addition, taking into consideration the Claimant’s request as well as the constant
practice of the Football Tribunal in this regard, the Single Judge decided to award the
Claimant interest at the rate of 5% p.a. on the outstanding bonuses as from 21 February
2022, respectively as from 30 August 2022 for the medical costs, until the date of effective
payment.
iii. Compliance with monetary decisions
15. In continuation, the Single Judge referred to art. 12bis par. 2 of the Regulations, which
stipulates that any club found to have delayed a due payment for more than 30 days
without a prima facie contractual basis may be sanctioned in accordance with art. 12bis
par. 4 of the Regulations.
16. To this end, the Single Judge confirmed that the player put the club in default of payment
of the amounts sought, which had fallen due more than 30 days before, and granted the
club a 10-day deadline to cure such breach of contract.
17. Accordingly, the Single Judge confirmed that the club had delayed a due payment without
a prima facia contractual basis. It followed that the criteria enshrined in art. 12bis of the
Regulations was met in the case at hand.
18. The Single Judge further established that by virtue of art. 12bis par. 4 of the Regulations
he has competence to impose sanctions on the club. On account of the above and bearing
in mind that this is the second offense by the club within the last two years, the Single
Judge decided to impose a reprimand on the club in accordance with art. 12bis par. 4 lit.
b) of the Regulations.
19. In this connection, the Single Judge highlighted that a repeated offence will be considered
as an aggravating circumstance and lead to a more severe penalty in accordance with art.
12bis par. 6 of the Regulations.
20. Finally, taking into account the applicable Regulations, the Single Judge referred to art. 24
par. 1 and 2 of the Regulations, which stipulate that, with its decision, the pertinent FIFA
deciding body shall also rule on the consequences deriving from the failure of the
concerned party to pay the relevant amounts of outstanding remuneration and/or
compensation in due time.
21. In this regard, the Single Judge highlighted that, against clubs, the consequence of the
failure to pay the relevant amounts in due time shall consist of a ban from registering any
new players, either nationally or internationally, up until the due amounts are paid. The
overall maximum duration of the registration ban shall be of up to three entire and
consecutive registration periods.
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22. Therefore, bearing in mind the above, the Single Judge decided that the Respondent must
pay the full amount due (including all applicable interest) to the Claimant within 45 days
of notification of the decision, failing which, at the request of the Claimant, a ban from
registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the maximum
duration of three entire and consecutive registration periods shall become immediately
effective on the Respondent in accordance with art. 24 par. 2, 4, and 7 of the Regulations.
23. The Respondent shall make full payment (including all applicable interest) to the bank
account provided by the Claimant in the Bank Account Registration Form, which is
attached to the present decision.
24. The Single Judge recalled that the above-mentioned ban will be lifted immediately and
prior to its complete serving upon payment of the due amounts, in accordance with art.
24 par. 8 of the Regulations.
d. Costs
25. The Single Judge referred to art. 25 par. 1 of the Procedural Rules, according to which
“Procedures are free of charge where at least one of the parties is a player, coach, football
agent, or match agent”. Accordingly, the Single Judge decided that no procedural costs
were to be imposed on the parties.
26. Likewise and for the sake of completeness, the Single Judge recalled the contents of art.
25 par. 8 of the Procedural Rules, and decided that no procedural compensation shall be
awarded in these proceedings.
27. Lastly, the Single Judge concluded its deliberations by rejecting any other requests for
relief made by any of the parties.
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IV. Decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
1.
The claim of the Claimant, Andrey Buyvolov, is partially accepted.
2.
The Respondent, Shakhter, has to pay to the Claimant, the following amount(s):
- KZT 1,690,625 as outstanding remuneration plus 5% interest p.a. as from 21 February
2022 until the date of effective payment;
- EUR 16,602 plus 5% interest p.a. as from 30 August 2022 until the date of effective
payment.
3.
Any further claims of the Claimant are rejected.
4.
A reprimand is imposed on the Respondent.
5.
Full payment (including all applicable interest) shall be made to the bank account
indicated in the enclosed Bank Account Registration Form.
6.
Pursuant to art. 24 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, if full payment
(including all applicable interest) is not made within 45 days of notification of this
decision, the following consequences shall apply:
1. The Respondent shall be banned from registering any new players, either nationally or
internationally, up until the due amount is paid. The maximum duration of the ban
shall be of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods.
2. The present matter shall be submitted, upon request, to the FIFA Disciplinary
Committee in the event that full payment (including all applicable interest) is still not
made by the end of the three entire and consecutive registration periods.
7.
The consequences shall only be enforced at the request of the Claimant in accordance
with art. 24 par. 7 and 8 and art. 25 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of
Players.
8.
This decision is rendered without costs.
For the Football Tribunal:
Emilio García Silvero
Chief Legal & Compliance Officer
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NOTE RELATED TO THE APPEAL PROCEDURE:
According to article 57 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, this decision may be appealed against
before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the notification
of this decision.
NOTE RELATED TO THE PUBLICATION:
FIFA may publish this decision. For reasons of confidentiality, FIFA may decide, at the
request of a party within five days of the notification of the motivated decision, to publish
an anonymised or a redacted version (cf. article 17 of the Procedural Rules).
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