Labour Disputes
Texto da decisão
REF. FPSD-19666
Decision of the
Dispute Resolution Chamber
passed on 7 August 2025
regarding an employment-related dispute concerning the player
Ruben Miguel Nunes Vezo
BY:
Khalid AWAD ALTHEBITY (Saudi Arabia)
CLAIMANT:
Ruben Miguel Nunes Vezo, Portugal
Represented by Sami Dinc
RESPONDENT:
Ikas Eyupspor, Türkiye
Represented by Ercan Sevdimbaş
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REF. FPSD-19666
I. Facts of the case
1.
On 6 September 2024, the Portuguese player Ruben Miguel Nunes Vezo (hereinafter: the
Claimant or the Player) and the Turkish club Eyupspor (hereinafter: the Respondent or the
Club) concluded an employment contract (hereinafter: the Contract) valid as from its date
of signature until 30 June 2025.
2.
In accordance with the Contract, the Respondent undertook to pay the Claimant EUR
70,000 net on 30 September 2024.
3.
In addition, the Claimant and the Respondent concluded an additional agreement
(hereinafter: the Additional Agreement) dated 5 September 2024, which read as follows:
“[…] FOR 2024/2025 FOOTBALL SEASON: In addition to the advance payment of 70.000.00-Euro
dated 30.09.2024 determined in the TFF Professional Football Player Contract between the
Parties, the below mentioned additional amounts shall also be paid by the Club to the Player:
A total of net 575.000-Euro as advance payment will be paid on the dates specified below.
•
•
•
Net 128.000-Euro on 30.09.2024,
Net 243.000-Euro on 31.01.2025,
Net 204.000-Euro on 30.06.2025 will be paid. […]”
II. Proceedings before FIFA
4.
On 20 June 2025, the Claimant filed the claim at hand before FIFA. A summary of the parties’
respective positions is detailed below.
a. Position of the Claimant
5.
In his claim, the Claimant noted that the Club only paid him EUR 250,000 according to the
Contract and the Additional Agreement.
6.
Accordingly, the Claimant requested payment of the balance of the second instalment of
the Additional Agreement, i.e. EUR 191,000 net, plus 5% interest p.a. as from 31 January
2025 until the date of effective payment.
b. Position of the Respondent
7.
In its reply, the Respondent submitted a proof of payment dated 4 July 2025 in the amount
of EUR 191,000.
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REF. FPSD-19666
c. Reaction of the Claimant to the Respondent’s alleged payment
8.
The Claimant acknowledged receipt of the Respondent’s payment of EUR 191,000, but
requested payment of EUR 4,058.75 as the applicable interest on the late payment.
III. Considerations of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
a. Competence and applicable legal framework
9.
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 June 2025 and submitted for
decision on 7 August 2025. Taking into account the wording of art. 31 and 34 of the January
2025 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.
10. 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 Portuguese player and a Turkish club.
11. 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
12. 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 (TMS).
c. Merits of the dispute
13. 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
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REF. FPSD-19666
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.
i. Main legal discussion and considerations
14. The Single Judge then moved to the substance of the matter, and took note that the
payment of the second instalment of the Additional Agreement is no longer disputed
between the parties, as the Claimant acknowledged having received on 4 July 2025 the
payment corresponding to its balance of EUR 191,000 net.
15. That said, the Single Judge noted that the Player requested EUR 4,058.75 as the applicable
interest on the late payment of the second instalment of the Additional Agreement.
16. In this context, the Single Judge recalled the constant practice of the Football Tribunal,
according to which a creditor is, in principle, entitled to interest on late payment of an
outstanding amount, provided that it is requested. In this regard, the Single Judge recalled
that the second instalment of the Additional Agreement was due on 31 January 2025, but
was only fully paid on 4 July 2025.
17. Consequently, in view of the foregoing and the Player’s request for relief, the Single Judge
concluded that the Respondent is held liable to pay the Claimant 5% interest p.a. on the
balance of the second instalment of the Additional Agreement, in the amount of EUR
191,000 net, as from 1 February 2025 until 4 July 2025, i.e. the date of its effective payment.
ii. Compliance with monetary decisions
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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
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REF. FPSD-19666
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.
21. 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.
22. 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
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. Lastly, the Single Judge concluded his deliberations by rejecting any other requests for
relief made by any of the parties.
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REF. FPSD-19666
IV. Decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
1.
The claim of the Claimant, Ruben Miguel Nunes Vezo, is accepted.
2.
The Respondent, Ikas Eyupspor, must pay to the Claimant the following amount:
-
5% interest p.a. over the amount of EUR 191,000 net as from 1 February 2025 until
4 July 2025.
3.
Full payment (including all applicable interest) shall be made to the bank account indicated
in the enclosed Bank Account Registration Form.
4.
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.
5.
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.
6.
This decision is rendered without costs.
For the Football Tribunal:
Emilio García Silvero
Chief Legal & Compliance Officer
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REF. FPSD-19666
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
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