Labour Disputes
Texto da decisão
REF. FPSD-20432
Decision of the
Dispute Resolution Chamber
passed on 3 November 2025
regarding an employment-related dispute concerning the player
Stephane Blanc
BY:
Michele COLUCCI (Italy)
CLAIMANT:
Stephane Blanc, France
RESPONDENT:
Ilch FC, Mongolia
pg. 2
REF. FPSD-20432
I. Facts of the case
1.
On 19 April 2025, the French player Stephane Blanc (hereinafter: the Claimant or the Player)
and the Mongolian club Ilch FC (hereinafter: the Respondent or the Club) concluded an
employment contract (hereinafter: the Contract) valid as from its date of signature until 10
July 2025.
2.
In accordance with the Contract, the Respondent undertook to pay the Claimant a monthly
salary of USD 400.
3.
In addition, the Respondent undertook to provide the Claimant with a car, compensation
for housing and food.
4.
On 8 June 2025, the Player asked an alleged representative of the Club about the payment
of his outstanding remuneration and the change of date of his return flight ticket.
5.
On 12 June 2025, an alleged representative of the Club informed the Player that he would
not get paid for the month of May 2025, but that he would get paid for June 2025.
6.
On 23 June 2025, the Player asked an alleged representative of the Club about the
possibility of changing the date of his return flight ticket or cancelling it and receiving the
equivalent amount in cash instead.
7.
On 25 June 2025, an alleged representative of the Club informed the Player that,
unfortunately, it was not possible to change the date of his return flight ticket.
8.
On 15 July 2025, an alleged representative of the Club remitted MNT 1,000,000 to the
Player.
9.
On 22 July 2025, the Player requested an alleged representative of the Club the payment
of outstanding remuneration amounting to USD 800.
10. On 28 July 2025, the Player requested an alleged representative of the Club to provide an
update regarding the payment of his outstanding remuneration.
11. On 5 August 2025, the Player again requested an alleged representative of the Club to
provide an update regarding the payment of his outstanding remuneration.
II. Proceedings before FIFA
12. On 20 August 2025, the Claimant filed the claim at hand before FIFA. A summary of the
parties’ respective positions is detailed below.
pg. 3
REF. FPSD-20432
a. Position of the Claimant
13. In his claim, the Claimant argued that he is entitled under the Contract to USD 800 as the
outstanding monthly salaries for May and July 2025, the equivalent of a return flight ticket
from Ulaanbaatar to Basel, estimated between USD 700 and USD 1,000, as well as
compensation for moral and financial damages, plus the applicable interest.
14. In addition, the Player argued that the league in Mongolia was extended, and that he
remained with the Club until 19 July 2025.
15. The Claimant’s requests for relief were the following:
“1. Orders the Respondent to pay the outstanding salaries for May 2025 (USD 400) and July 2025
(USD 400), totalling USD 800.
2. Orders the Respondent to pay the equivalent of the return flight ticket from Ulaanbaatar to
Basel, Switzerland, estimated between USD 700 and USD 1000.
3. Grants compensation for moral and financial damages caused by the breach of contract,
including the professional and personal consequences of being stranded abroad without means
to return home.
4. Applies any disciplinary sanctions deemed necessary against the responsible parties, in
accordance with FIFA regulations.”
16. For the sake of completeness of his claim, the Player provided the table below regarding
the breakdown of the amount in dispute, with the applicable interest.
Item
Amount
Contractual
Period
(Currency)
Basis
Covered
Due Date
Monthly
Salary –
May 2025
USD 400
Notes / Proof
WhatsApp from
salary clause
01/05/2025 –
in
31/05/2025
Ala Ramadan
31/05/2025
Employment
confirming nonpayment
Contract
Match evidence
Monthly
Salary –
July 2025
USD 400
+ Messenger
salary clause
01/07/2025 –
in
19/07/2025
from Sanaa
31/07/2025
confirming
Employment
awaiting
Contract
payment from
investors
pg. 4
REF. FPSD-20432
Proof of return
Return
Return flight
Request made
flight ticket
July 2025
(10/07/2025)
flight to
USD 700 –
obligation in
Basel
1000
Employment
-
Contract
+ WhatsApp
refusal from
investors
From
Interest
To be
FIFA standard
01/06/2025
calculated
interest rate
(May) &
Tribunal to
Until paid
determine rate
01/08/2025
(July)
Moral &
Breach of
Impact
financial
To be
contract +
July 2025 –
damages
assessed
stranded
present
-
statement +
correspondence
abroad
b. Position of the Respondent
17. Despite being invited to do so, the Respondent failed to timely reply to the claim, i.e., no
later than 10 September 2025.
c. Unsolicited correspondence from the parties
18. On 1 September 2025, the Claimant submitted correspondence outside the relevant time
limit which has been disregarded by the FIFA general secretariat in line with art. 11 par. 4
of the Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal (hereinafter: the Procedural Rules).
19. On 11 September 2025, the FIFA general secretariat acknowledged that no reply had been
received from the Respondent and informed the parties that the submission-phase was
therefore closed (cf., art. 23 par. 1 of the Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal
hereinafter: the Procedural Rules).
20. On the same date, i.e., 11 September 2025, after the closure of the submission phase, the
Claimant submitted unsolicited correspondence.
21. On 12 September 2025, namely after the closure of the submission phase, the Respondent
submitted unsolicited correspondence.
22. On the same date, i.e., 12 September 2025, the FIFA General Secretariat acknowledged
receipt of the above correspondence and informed the parties that both submissions
would be disregarded, based on art. 23 par. 1 of the Procedural Rules.
pg. 5
REF. FPSD-20432
III. Considerations of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
a. Competence and applicable legal framework
23. First of all, the Single Judge of the Dispute Resolution Chamber (hereinafter: the 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 20 August 2025 and submitted for
decision on 3 November 2025. Taking into account the wording of arts. 31 and 34 of the
January 2025 edition of the Procedural Rules, the aforementioned edition of the Procedural
Rules is applicable to the matter at hand.
24. Furthermore, the Single Judge 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 on the Status and Transfer of Players (hereinafter: the Regulations) (July 2025
edition), the Dispute Resolution Chamber is competent to deal with the matter at stake,
which concerns an employment-related dispute with an international dimension between
a French player and a Mongolian club.
25. 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. 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
26. 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 he may
consider evidence not filed by the parties, including without limitation the evidence
generated by or within the Transfer Matching System (hereinafter: TMS).
c. Merits of the dispute
27. Having established the competence and the applicable regulations, 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 he will refer only to the facts, arguments and documentary evidence, which
he considered pertinent for assessing the matter at hand.
pg. 6
REF. FPSD-20432
i. Main legal discussion and considerations
28. The Single Judge then moved to the substance of the matter and took note of the fact that,
according to the Claimant, he is entitled under the Contract to outstanding remuneration
of USD 800 and a return flight ticket from Ulaanbaatar to Basel.
29. In addition, the Single Judge took note that the Respondent did not respond to the claim,
entailing that his decision must be made on the basis of the documentation on file, that is,
the argumentation and evidence filed by the Claimant in line with art. 21 par. 1 of the
Procedural Rules.
30. In this context, the Single Judge acknowledged that his task was to determine, based on
the evidence presented by the parties, whether the claimed amounts had in fact remained
unpaid by the Respondent and, if so, whether the latter had a valid justification for not
having complied with its financial obligations.
31. The Single Judge first noted 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. Nonetheless, the Single Judge pointed out that the Respondent failed to
provide any evidence to prove the payment of the amounts claimed as outstanding by the
Claimant. Furthermore, the Single Judge noted that no reasonable justification was
presented by the Respondent for not having complied with the terms of the Contract.
32. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Single Judge recalled the content of art. 13 par. 5 of the
Procedural Rules, according to which a party that asserts a fact has the burden of proving
it.
33. With the above principle in mind and after a thorough analysis of the evidence on file, the
Single Judge concluded that the Player failed to provide any evidence to prove that the
season 2024/2025 in Mongolia was extended, and that he remained with the Club until 19
July 2025.
34. For the sake of completeness, the Single Judge considered the evidence generated by TMS
and observed that the season 2024/2025 in Mongolia ended on 10 July 2025, which
corresponds to the date of termination of the employment relationship between the
Claimant and the Respondent, as stipulated in the Contract.
35. 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 amounts
which were outstanding under the Contract at the moment of its termination, i.e., USD 400
as the monthly salary for May 2025 and USD 129.03 as the pro rata monthly salary for July
2025 (USD 400 / 31 x 10 working days).
pg. 7
REF. FPSD-20432
36. 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 amounts as follows:
•
On the amount of USD 400, as the monthly salary for May 2025, plus 5% interest
p.a. as from 1 June 2025 until the date of effective payment; and
•
On the amount of USD 129.03, as the pro rata monthly salary for July 2025, plus 5%
interest p.a. as from 1 August 2025 until the date of effective payment.
37. In continuation, the Single Judge examined the Player’s request for payment of the
equivalent of a return flight ticket from Ulaanbaatar to Basel. In this respect, the Single
Judge underlined that the Contract did not contain any provision granting the Player an
entitlement to such a flight ticket. Consequently, due to the absence of a contractual basis,
the Single Judge decided to reject this request.
38. Lastly, the Single Judge decided to reject the Player’s request for moral damages based on
the jurisprudence of the Football Tribunal and art. 13 par. 5 of the Procedural Rules. In fact,
the Single Judge remarked that the Claimant did not provide any evidence or justification
regarding the alleged moral damages suffered, or their quantification.
ii. Compliance with monetary decisions
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
pg. 8
REF. FPSD-20432
42. 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.
43. 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
44. 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.
45. 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.
46. Lastly, the Single Judge concluded his deliberations by rejecting any other requests for
relief made by any of the parties.
pg. 9
REF. FPSD-20432
IV. Decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
1.
The claim of the Claimant, Stephane Blanc, is partially accepted.
2.
The Respondent, Ilch FC, must pay to the Claimant the following amounts:
- USD 400 as outstanding remuneration plus 5% interest p.a. as from 1 June 2025 until
the date of effective payment; and
- USD 129.03 as outstanding remuneration plus 5% interest p.a. as from 1 August 2025
until the date of effective payment.
3.
Any further claims of the Claimant are rejected.
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. 10
REF. FPSD-20432
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:
Fédération Internationale de Football Association – Legal & Compliance Division
396 Alhambra Circle, 6th floor, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida, USA 33134
legal.fifa.com | [email protected] | T: +41 (0)43 222 7777
pg. 11