Labour Disputes
Texto da decisão
REF. FPSD-19997
Decision of the
Dispute Resolution Chamber
passed on 5 March 2026
regarding an employment-related dispute concerning the player
Youssef El-Arabi
COMPOSITION:
Frans DE WEGER (The Netherlands), Chairperson
Khadija TIMERA (Senegal), Member
Jorge GUTIÉRREZ (Costa Rica), Member
CLAIMANT:
Youssef El-Arabi, Morocco & France
Represented by Eleven & Law
RESPONDENT:
APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus
pg. 2
REF. FPSD-19997
I. Facts of the case
1.
On 13 July 2024, the Moroccan and French player Youssef El-Arabi (hereinafter, the Player
or the Claimant) and the Cypriot club, APOEL Nicosia (hereinafter, the Club or the
Respondent) entered into an employment contract (hereinafter, the Contract) valid as from
its date of signature until 31 May 2026.
2.
Pursuant to Clause 1.3 of the Contract, the Club undertook to pay to the Player (hereinafter,
jointly referred to as the Parties) a fixed remuneration of EUR 300,000 net per season,
payable in ten monthly instalments of EUR 30,000 net from 31 August 2024 to 31 May 2025,
and from 31 August 2025 to 31 May 2026.
3.
Also on 13 July 2024, the Parties concluded the so-called “Supplementary Agreement”,
according to which:
“By virtue of this agreement, which is an integral part of [the Contract], the parties with
further to [the Contract], to agree additionally the following:
1. In addition to art. 1.3 of [the Contract] between the Club and the Player, the Club shall
also pay to the Player, the net amount of EUR 400,000 as follows:
1.1. The amount of EUR 25,000 net on 14 July 2024;
1.2. The amount of EUR 25,000 net on 31 July 2024;
1.3. The remaining net amount of EUR 350,000, payable as follows:
1.3.1. Payable from 31st August 2024 until 31st May 2025, monthly instalments of
EUR 17,500 net each.
1.3.2. Payable from 31st August 2025 until 31st May 2026, monthly instalments of
EUR 17,500 net each”.
4.
Under Clause 2 of the Supplementary Agreement, the Player was also entitled to three
return flight tickets from Larnaca to Athens per season.
5.
On 16 May 2025, the Player put the Club in default, granting it a deadline of 15 days to pay
EUR 267,500 net, broken down as follows:
o EUR 60,000 net for the salaries for March and April 2025 under the Contract;
o EUR 50,000 net for the two lump-sum payments due on 14 and 31 July 2024 under
the Supplementary Agreement; and
o EUR 157,500 net corresponding to the instalments from August 2024 to April 2025
under the Supplementary Agreement.
pg. 3
REF. FPSD-19997
6.
On 5 July 2025, the Player sent a second default notice, granting a final deadline of 72 hours
to pay EUR 315,000 net, which reflected the amounts claimed previously plus:
o EUR 30,000 net for the May 2025 salary under the Contract; and
o EUR 17,500 net for the May 2025 instalment under the Supplementary Agreement.
7.
On 7 July 2025, the Club replied, claiming the outstanding amount was EUR 265,000 and
proposing a repayment plan consisting of (i) a down payment of EUR 60,000 by 15 July 2025;
(ii) a second down payment of EUR 60,000 by 16 August 2025; and (iii) nine monthly
instalments of EUR 21,667 from September 2025 to May 2026.
8.
On 8 July 2025, the Player responded, rejecting the Club’s proposal as unacceptable and
granting a final deadline of 72 hours to pay EUR 315,000 net.
9.
According to the Player, on 8 and 9 July 2025, the Club sent him several WhatsApp
messages attempting to convince him to reach an agreement settlement.
10. On 9 July 2025, the Club contacted the Player’s legal representative by email stating, inter
alia, the following:
“Dear Gauthier,
Please note that we had a meeting yesterday and today with your client and had a
constructive discussion about this issue. He is fully informed about the total amount due to
him which as mentioned before sums up to EUR 265,000. Our difference is the
downpayment of 50k paid to him back in September that you state in your email that is not
received (…).
We also attach a settlement agreement prepared based on the total amount due to [the
Player] and with a repayment plan until May 2026. [The Player] was very understanding
and helpful with this”.
11. Also on 9 July 2025, the Player’s legal representative denied that any agreement had been
reached. The Player’s legal representative confirmed that the total outstanding amount
was EUR 265,000, and stated:
“Considering the amount outstanding, the Player was already entitled to terminate the
employment relationship without just cause as of 1 June 2025. However, as a sign of
goodwill, he refrained from doing so and instead granted the Club one final opportunity to
comply with its contractual obligations.
As previously communicated, a final deadline of 72 hours was granted yesterday. Therefore,
48 hours remain for the Club to comply”.
pg. 4
REF. FPSD-19997
12. On 11 July 2025, the Club replied, asserting that negotiations with the Player were ongoing
and requesting an extension of the deadline to reach an amicable settlement.
13. Also on 11 July 2025, the Player replied, denying that any negotiations were ongoing and
reiterating that the only acceptable solution was full payment of the outstanding amounts.
14. On the same day, the Club responded, again insisting that it was engaged in settlement
negotiations with the Player.
15. On 12 July 2025, the Player unilaterally terminated the Contract due to overdue payables.
16. On 18 July 2025, the Player signed a new employment contract with the French club
FC Nantes, valid until 30 June 2026.
17. Under this new contract, the Player is entitled to a monthly remuneration of EUR 31,000
net.
II. Proceedings before FIFA
18. On 18 July 2025, the Player filed the claim at hand before FIFA. A summary of the Parties’
respective positions is detailed below.
a. Claim of Player
19. In his claim, the Player argued that he had just cause to unilaterally terminate the Contract
due to overdue payables, after having placed the Club in default, to no avail, in accordance
with art. 14bis of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (hereinafter, the
Regulations).
20. On this basis, the Player claimed entitlement to a total of EUR 740,306 net, broken down
as follows:
a. Outstanding remuneration
o EUR 90,000 net as salaries for March, April and May 2025 under the Contract;
o EUR 175,000 net as monthly instalments for August 2024 to May 2025 under the
Supplementary Agreement;
o EUR 9,863 net corresponding to 12 days for the 2025/2026 season under the
Contract;
pg. 5
REF. FPSD-19997
o EUR 5,753 net corresponding to 12 days for the 2025/2026 season under the
Supplementary Agreement; and
b. Reimbursement of expenses
o EUR 306 net as reimbursement for flight expenses concerning the flight tickets from
Larnaca to Athens.
c. Compensation
o EUR 290,137 net as the residual value of the Contract, from 13 July 2025 to 30 June
2026; and
o EUR 169,247 net as the residual value of the Supplementary Agreement, from 13
July 2025 to 30 June 2026.
21. The Player requested the following relief (freely translated into English):
“For the reasons set out above, the Player requests that the Football Tribunal:
1. Declare that the Player terminated the Contract with just cause on July 12, 2025;
2. Order the Club to pay the Player the net sum of €280,616 in respect of outstanding
remuneration, plus interest at 5% per annum as follows:
o 5% per annum on the net sum of €17,500 from September 1, 2024 until the date of
actual payment;
o 5% per annum on the net sum of €17,500 from October 1, 2024 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net sum of €17,500 from November 1, 2024 until the date of
actual payment;
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €17,500 from December 1, 2024 until the date
of actual payment;
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €17,500 from January 1, 2025 until the date of
actual payment;
o 5% per annum on the net sum of €17,500 from February 1, 2025 until the date of
actual payment;
o 5% per annum on the net sum of €17,500 from March 1, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €17,500 from April 1, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
pg. 6
REF. FPSD-19997
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €30,000 from April 1, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €17,500 from May 1, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €30,000 from May 1, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €17,500 from June 1, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net amount of €30,000 from June 1, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net sum of €5,753 from July 12, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
o 5% per annum on the net sum of €9,863 from July 12, 2025 until the date of actual
payment.
3. Order the Club to reimburse the Player the net sum of €306 as reimbursement for the
plane ticket, plus interest at 5% per annum from July 12, 2025 until the date of actual
payment;
4. Order the Club to pay the Player the net sum of €459,384 as compensation for termination
without just cause, plus interest at 5% per annum from July 12, 2025 until the date of
actual payment;
5. Order the Club to provide the Player with tax certificates proving payment of taxes due
on the outstanding remuneration and compensation for termination without just cause;
6. Order the Club to refrain from registering new players until the above-mentioned sums
have been paid in full.”
b. Reply of the Club
22. In its reply to the claim, the Club first acknowledged that it failed to reply to the Player’s
default notice dated 5 July 2025, attributing this omission to the recent departure of its
General Manager.
23. The Club asserted that it has been facing ongoing financial constraints and that it
attempted to resolve the matter amicably through negotiations for a settlement
agreement. According to the Club, it proposed a repayment plan and offered the Player
two cheques of EUR 60,000 each. However, the Player never collected the cheques, stating
instead that the amounts did not correspond to the total outstanding debt. The Club
pg. 7
REF. FPSD-19997
argued that Player’s conduct was contradictory, as he nonetheless proceeded to terminate
the Contract.
24. The Club denied that the Player had just cause to terminate the Contract, maintaining that
ongoing negotiations between the Parties were taking place.
25. Regarding the outstanding payables, the Club acknowledged a total debt of EUR 265,000,
broken down as follows:
o EUR 90,000 representing the salaries for March, April and May 2025 under the
Contract (i.e., EUR 30,000 each); and
o EUR 175,000 representing the total amounts due under the Supplementary
Agreement for the 2024/2025 season.
26. The Club further claimed that no remuneration was owed for July 2025 under either the
Contract or the Supplementary Agreement. Accordingly, it rejected the Player’s entitlement
to the pro rata amounts claimed for this period.
27. The Club also rejected the Player’s claim for reimbursement of expenses. It argued that, at
the relevant time, the Contract was no longer in force and that the Player failed to inform
the Club’s management of his travel plans, which prevented it from arranging the tickets
through its travel agent.
28. Finally, the Club disputed the Player’s entitlement to EUR 459,384 in compensation. It
argued that, following his departure, the Player signed a new employment contract with FC
Nantes, and that the salary earned under this new contract must be deducted from any
compensation claimed.
pg. 8
REF. FPSD-19997
III. Considerations of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
a. Competence and applicable legal framework
29. First of all, the Dispute Resolution Chamber (hereinafter, the Chamber or the DRC) analysed
whether it was competent to deal with the case at hand. In this respect, it took note that
the present matter was presented to FIFA on 18 July 2025 and submitted for decision on 5
March 2026. Taking into account the wording of arts. 32 and 35 of the January 2026 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.
30. Furthermore, the Chamber referred to art. 2 par. 1 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 (July 2025 edition), the DRC is competent to deal with the matter at stake, which
concerns an employment-related dispute with an international dimension between a
Moroccan player and a Cypriot club.
31. Subsequently, the Chamber analysed which regulations should be applicable as to the
substance of the matter. In this respect, it confirmed that, in accordance with art. 29 of the
Regulations, the July 2025 edition of the Regulations is applicable to the matter at hand as
to the substance.
b. Burden of proof
32. The Chamber 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 Chamber 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
33. Having established the competence and the applicable regulations, the Chamber entered
into the merits of the dispute. In this respect, the Chamber started by acknowledging all
the above-mentioned facts as well as the arguments and the documentation on file.
However, the Chamber emphasised that in the following considerations it will refer only to
the facts, arguments and documentary evidence, which it considered pertinent for
assessing the matter at hand.
pg. 9
REF. FPSD-19997
i. Main legal discussion and considerations
34. The Chamber then moved to the substance of the matter, and noted that it concerned a
claim lodged by the Player against the Club for breach of contract and its legal
consequences based on art. 14bis of the Regulations.
35. In this context, the members of the DRC acknowledged that their task was to determine,
based on the evidence provided by the Parties, whether the claimed amounts had in fact
remained unpaid by the Club and, if so, whether the formal pre-requisites of art. 14bis of
the Regulations had in fact been fulfilled.
36. The Chamber first referred to the wording of art. 14bis par. 1 of the Regulations, in
accordance with which, if a club unlawfully fails to pay a player at least two monthly salaries
on their due dates, the player will be deemed to have just cause to terminate his contract,
provided that he has put the debtor club in default in writing and has granted a deadline
of at least 15 days for the debtor club to fully comply with its financial obligation(s).
37. In this respect, the Chamber noted that the Player claimed not having received the
following remuneration:
o EUR 90,000 net as salaries for March, April and May 2025 under the Contract;
o EUR 175,000 net as monthly instalments for August 2024 to May 2025 under the
Supplementary Agreement;
o EUR 9,863 net corresponding to 12 days for the 2025/2026 season under the
Contract;
o EUR 5,753 net corresponding to 12 days for the 2025/2026 season under the
Supplementary Agreement;
o EUR 306 net as reimbursement for flight expenses.
38. Furthermore, the Chamber noted that the Player provided written evidence of having put
the Club in default on 16 May 2025, i.e., at least 15 days before unilaterally terminating the
Contract on 12 July 2025.
39. The DRC underscored that, in this case, the Club bore the burden of proving that it indeed
complied with the financial terms of the Contract and the Supplementary Agreement
concluded between the Parties. However, the Chamber noted that the Club expressly
acknowledged having failed to pay the salaries for March and April 2025 under the
Contract, as well as any amounts due under the Supplementary Agreement, which clearly
exceed two monthly salaries. The Club sought to justify this non-compliance by invoking
financial difficulties and ongoing negotiations allegedly aimed at settling the outstanding
debt.
pg. 10
REF. FPSD-19997
40. In this respect, the Chamber referred to the longstanding jurisprudence of the Football
Tribunal, which has repeatedly established that financial difficulties per se do not constitute
a valid reason to justify the failure to fulfil contractual obligations (in this regard, inter alia,
DRC Decision of 23 July 2025, Donkor; DRC Decision of 16 January 2025, Mendes de
Andrade; DRC Decision of 6 June 2025, Atal).
41. In any event, the Chamber observed that the Club did not provide any documentary
evidence whatsoever to substantiate its alleged financial difficulties, therefore failing to
discharge its burden of proof in accordance with art. 13 par. 5 of the Procedural Rules.
42. With regard to the purported negotiations, the Chamber wished to emphasise that no
settlement agreement —whether concluded, drafted, or in progress— was submitted to
the file. Consequently, the Chamber determined that the Player was under no obligation
to collect the cheques referred to by the Club and therefore cannot be reproached for the
Club’s unjustified and continuing default in the payment of his remuneration.
43. In light of the foregoing, the Chamber concluded that the Player had just cause to
unilaterally terminate the Contract pursuant to art. 14bis of the Regulations, and that the
Club is therefore liable for the consequences that follow.
ii. Consequences
44. Having stated the above, the Chamber turned to the analysis of the legal consequences
arising from the Club’s breach.
Outstanding remuneration
45. The DRC observed that the outstanding remuneration at the time of termination, coupled
with the specific requests for relief of the Player, amounts to EUR 265,000 net, broken down
as follows:
o EUR 90,000 net as salaries for March, April and May 2025 under the Contract (i.e.,
EUR 30,000 net each); and
o EUR 175,000 net as monthly instalments for August 2024 to May 2025 under the
Supplementary Agreement.
46. As a consequence, and in accordance with the general legal principle of pacta sunt servanda,
the Chamber decided that the Club is liable to pay the Player the amounts which were
outstanding under the Contract and the Supplementary Agreement at the moment of
termination, i.e., EUR 265,000 net as detailed ut supra.
pg. 11
REF. FPSD-19997
47. In addition, taking into consideration the Player’s request as well as the constant practice
of the Football Tribunal in this regard, the Chamber decided to award the Player interest
at the rate of 5% per annum on the aforementioned amount as follows:
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 17,500 net as from 1 September 2024 until the date of
effective payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 17,500 net as from 1 October 2024 until the date of effective
payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 17,500 net as from 1 November 2024 until the date of
effective payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 17,500 net as from 1 December 2024 until the date of
effective payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 17,500 net as from 1 January 2025 until the date of effective
payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 17,500 net as from 1 February 2025 until the date of effective
payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 17,500 net as from 1 March 2025 until the date of effective
payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 47,500 net as from 1 April 2025 until the date of effective
payment;
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 47,500 net as from 1 May 2025 until the date of effective
payment; and
o 5% interest p.a. on EUR 47,500 net as from 1 June 2025 until the date of effective
payment.
Reimbursement of flight tickets
48. The Chamber then proceeded to examine the Player’s claim for reimbursement of
expenses related to a flight ticket purchased from Larnaca to Athens, in the amount of
EUR 306 net.
49. In this regard, the DRC recalled that Clause 2 of the Supplementary Agreement expressly
entitled the Player to three return flight tickets from Larnaca to Athens per season.
50. Having established the contractual basis for the claim, the Chamber reviewed the evidence
submitted by the Player and noted that it demonstrates that, on 16 July 2025, he incurred
the claimed amount in order to travel from Larnaca to Athens.
pg. 12
REF. FPSD-19997
51. Consequently, and in accordance with the legal principle of pacta sunt servanda, the
Chamber determined that the Player is entitled to reimbursement of EUR 306 net, together
with 5% interest per annum as from 17 July 2025 until the date of effective payment.
52. In the Chamber’s view, the fact that the Contract was no longer in force at the relevant time,
or that the Player did not inform the Club’s management of his travel arrangements, does
not extinguish his contractual entitlement to the flight ticket. For these reasons, the Club’s
arguments in this regard were dismissed.
Compensation for breach of contract
53. Having stated the above, the Chamber turned to the calculation of the amount of
compensation payable by the Club in the case at stake. In doing so, the Chamber firstly
recapitulated that, in accordance with art. 17 par. 1 of the Regulations, the amount of
compensation shall be calculated, in particular and unless otherwise provided for in the
contract at the basis of the dispute, taking into account the damage suffered, according to
the “positive interest” principle, having regard for the individual facts and circumstances of
each case, and with due consideration for the law of the country concerned.
54. In application of the relevant provision, the Chamber held that it first of all had to clarify as
to whether the pertinent employment contract contained a provision by means of which
the Parties had beforehand agreed upon an amount of compensation payable by them in
the event of breach of contract. In this regard, the Chamber established that no such
compensation clause was included in the employment contract at the basis of the matter
at stake.
55. As a consequence, the Chamber determined that the amount of compensation payable by
the Club to the Player had to be assessed in application of the other parameters set out in
art. 17 par. 1 of the Regulations. In this respect, the Chamber recalled that, as a general
rule, compensation to be paid to a player by a club shall be equal to the residual value of
the contract that was prematurely terminated, unless the player signed a new contract
following the termination of his previous contract (cf., art. 17 par. 1 lit. i) of the Regulations).
56. Bearing in mind the foregoing as well as the claim of the Player, the Chamber proceeded
with the calculation of the monies payable to him under the terms of the Contract and the
Supplementary Agreement from the date of its unilateral termination until its end date.
Consequently, the Chamber concluded that the amount of EUR 475,000 net serves as the
basis for the determination of the amount of compensation for breach of contract, broken
down as follows:
o Contract: EUR 300,000 net (i.e., EUR 30,000 net from August 2025 to May 2026).
o Supplementary Agreement: EUR 175,000 net (i.e., EUR 17,500 net from August
2025 to May 2026).
pg. 13
REF. FPSD-19997
57. In continuation, the Chamber verified as to whether the Player had signed an employment
contract with another club during the relevant period of time, by means of which he would
have been enabled to reduce his loss of income. According to the constant practice of the
DRC as well as art. 17 par. 1 lit. ii) of the Regulations, such remuneration under a new
employment contract shall be taken into account in the calculation of the amount of
compensation for breach of contract in connection with the general obligation to mitigate
his damages.
58. Indeed, the Player found employment with the French club FC Nantes. In accordance with
the pertinent employment contract, the Player is entitled to EUR 31,000 net per month.
Therefore, the Chamber concluded that the Player mitigated his damages in the total
amount of EUR 341,000 net, that is, eleven times EUR 31,000 net for the relevant period.
59. Subsequently, the Chamber referred to art. 17 par. 1 lit. ii) of the Regulations, according to
which a player is entitled to an amount corresponding to three monthly salaries as
additional compensation should the termination of the employment contract at stake be
due to overdue payables. In the case at hand, the Chamber confirmed that the contract
termination took place due to said reason, i.e., overdue payables by the Club and therefore
decided that the Player shall receive additional compensation.
60. In this respect, the DRC decided to award the amount of additional compensation of
EUR 142,500 net, i.e., three times EUR 30,000 net under the Contract plus EUR 17,500 net
under the Supplementary Agreement.
61. Consequently, on account of all the above-mentioned considerations and the specificities
of the case at hand, the Chamber decided that the Club must pay the amount of
EUR 276,500 net to the Player (i.e., EUR 475,000 net minus EUR 341,000 net plus
EUR 142,500 net), which was to be considered a reasonable and justified amount of
compensation for breach of contract in the present matter. Taking into consideration the
Player’s request as well as the constant practice of the Football Tribunal in this regard, the
Chamber decided to award the Player interest on said compensation at the rate of 5% per
annum as from 12 July 2025 until the date of effective payment.
Tax certificates
62. The members of the DRC lastly examined the Player’s request that the Club be ordered to
provide tax certificates proving payment of taxes relating to the outstanding remuneration
and compensation awarded.
63. In this respect, the Chamber noted that neither the Contract nor the Supplementary
Agreement imposes an obligation on the Club to provide such tax certificates. In the
absence of a contractual basis, the Chamber decided that this part of the Player’s claim
must be dismissed.
pg. 14
REF. FPSD-19997
iii. Compliance with monetary decisions
64. Finally, taking into account the applicable Regulations, the Chamber 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.
65. In this regard, the DRC 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.
66. Therefore, bearing in mind the above, the DRC decided that the Club must pay the full
amount due (including all applicable interest) to the Player within 45 days of notification of
the decision, failing which, at the request of the Player, 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 Club in
accordance with art. 24 par. 2, 4, and 7 of the Regulations.
67. The Club shall make full payment (including all applicable interest) to the bank account
provided by the Player in the Bank Account Registration Form, which is attached to the
present decision.
68. The DRC 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
69. The Chamber 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 Chamber decided that no procedural costs were to be
imposed on the Parties.
70. Likewise, and for the sake of completeness, the Chamber recalled the contents of art. 25
par. 8 of the Procedural Rules and decided that no procedural compensation shall be
awarded in these proceedings.
71. Lastly, the DRC concluded its deliberations by rejecting any other requests for relief made
by any of the Parties.
pg. 15
REF. FPSD-19997
IV. Decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
1.
The claim of the Claimant, Youssef El-Arabi, is partially accepted.
2.
The Respondent, APOEL Nicosia, must pay to the Claimant the following amount(s):
o EUR 265,000 net as outstanding remuneration plus 5% interest per annum as follows:
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 17,500 net as from 1 September 2024 until the
date of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 17,500 net as from 1 October 2024 until the
date of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 17,500 net as from 1 November 2024 until the
date of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 17,500 net as from 1 December 2024 until the
date of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 17,500 net as from 1 January 2025 until the
date of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 17,500 net as from 1 February 2025 until the
date of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 17,500 net as from 1 March 2025 until the date
of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 47,500 net as from 1 April 2025 until the date
of effective payment;
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 47,500 net as from 1 May 2025 until the date
of effective payment; and
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 47,500 net as from 1 June 2025 until the date
of effective payment.
o EUR 306 net as reimbursement of flight tickets plus 5% interest per annum as from
17 July 2025 until the date of effective payment.
o EUR 276,500 net as compensation for breach of contract plus 5% interest per annum
as from 12 July 2025 until the date of effective payment.
3.
Any further claims of the Claimant are rejected.
pg. 16
REF. FPSD-19997
4.
Full payment (including all applicable interest) shall be made to the bank account indicated
in the enclosed Bank Account Registration Form.
5.
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.
6.
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.
7.
This decision is rendered without costs.
For the Football Tribunal:
Emilio García Silvero
Chief Legal & Compliance Officer
pg. 17
REF. FPSD-19997
NOTE RELATED TO THE APPEAL PROCEDURE
According to art. 50 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., art. 17 of the Procedural Rules Governing the Football
Tribunal).
CONTACT INFORMATION
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