The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the appeal of the Tunisian football player Naim Sliti against the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) decision on his contractual dispute with Al Ettifaq Club, Saudi Arabia, and has dismissed the club’s appeal
Contrary to the DRC considerations, the Panel concluded that the club had failed to comply with the FIFA COVID-19 Guidelines. It revoked the unilateral salary reduction imposed on the player due to the COVID-19 pandemic and compelled the club to pay those amounts in full.
In addition, the Panel considered that the club’s decision to impose monetary fines on the player for his absence from training, while itself remained in default of its payment obligations towards him and while knowing his anticipated reaction to this, was made entirely in bad faith and abuse of right and was, therefore, illegal.
SILA International Lawyers represented Naim Sliti in the CAS proceedings.