Decisionofthe DisputeResolutionChamber passedon14November2023 regardinganemployment-relateddisputeconcerningtheplayerAmineBenchaib BY: AlexandraGomezBruinewoud,Uruguay&theNetherlands CLAIMANT: AmineBenchaib,Belgium RepresentedbyDanielleBabin RESPONDENT: CSMioveni,Romania RepresentedbyDiaconuSilviuConstantin I.Factsofthecase 1.On15January2023,theBelgianplayer,AmineBenchaib(hereinafter:theplayerortheClaimant),andtheRomanianclub,CSMioveni(hereinafter:theclubortheRespondent),concludedanemploymentcontractvalidasfromthedateofsignatureuntil30June2023(hereinafter:theContract). 2.Underclause4oftheContract,theclubundertooktopaytotheplayerthefollowingamounts: EUR5,000netas“installationfee”;and EUR5,300netasmonthlysalary. 3.Clause11oftheContractreadsasfollows: “XI.APPLICABLELAW ThisAgreementwillbegovernedandinterpretedaccordingtotheLawofphysicaleducationandsportsno.69/2000,totheCivilCode,totheRegulationontheStatusandTransferofFootballPlayers,totheLaw227/2015regardingtheFiscalCodeandtotheRegulationsofFRFandFIFA. Theconflictsrelatedtotheexecution,performance,modification,suspensionorterminationofthisAgreementwillbesolvedinthefollowingorderofproceedings: amicably; aslitigations,consideringthatthecompetencetosolvesuchlitigationsbelongstothearbitrationcourtsofsports,thatisthecompetentcommitteesofFRFand/orLPF,dependingonthecase,andTAS,exceptingthosethatbelongexclusivelytothecompetenceofthecourtsoflaw,underthelaw.(FIFAFootbalTribunal(sic),pursuantRSTPofFIFAandAppealtoCAS)”. 4.On13May2023,theplayerputtheclubindefaultofpaymentofEUR15,600net,correspondingtotheinstallationfeeandthesalariesofMarchandApril2023undertheContract.Theplayergrantedthecluba15days’deadlineinordertoremedythebreachunderpenaltyofterminationinlinewithart.14bisoftheFIFARegulationsontheStatusandTransferofPlayers(RSTP). 5.On14June2023,theclubsubmittedarequesttoopeninsolvencyproceedings(“preventiveconcordat”)beforethenationalcourtsinRomania. 6.On15June2023,andabsentanyreplyfromtheclub,theplayernotifieditoftheterminationoftheContractduetooverduepayables. 7.On22June2023,theRomaniannationalcourtsadmittedtheclub’srequestforopeningofinsolvencyproceedingsandinteraliaappointedtheauthorizedadministrator(hereinafter:theAdministrator). 8.On7August2023,theAdministratorsubmittedarestructuringplanfortheclubandinteralia listedtheplayerascreditorofRON26,500. 9.TheplayerconfirmedthatheremainedunemployedfollowingtheterminationoftheContract. II.ProceedingsbeforeFIFA 10.On10October2023,theplayerfiledtheclaimathandbeforeFIFA.Abriefsummaryofthepositionofthepartiesisdetailedincontinuation. a.Positionoftheplayer 11.Inhisclaim,theplayerexplainedthatheterminatedtheContractwithjustcausebasedonart.14bisoftheFIFARSTP.Consequently,theplayerrequestedtobeawardedthetotalamountofEUR20,900net,brokendownasfollows: EUR5,000netastheinstallationfeeplus5%interestasfrom31January2023; EUR5,300netasthesalaryofApril2023plus5%interestasfrom30April2023; EUR5,300netasthesalaryofMay2023plus5%interestasfrom31May2023;and EUR5,300netasthesalaryofJune2023plus5%interestasfrom30June2023. b.Positionoftheclub 12.On31October2023,theclubfileditsreplytotheclaim. 13.Initsreply,theclubchallengedFIFA’sjurisdictionbasedonthefollowingreasons: Theclubisundergoingaspecificalprocedureofinsolvency(“preventiveconcordat”)underthenationallaw.Assuch,anyandallclaimsshouldbesuspendedandhandledexclusivelybytheRomaniancourts.Likewise,thecreditoftheplayerhadalreadybeenconsideredinrestructuringplanissuedbytheAdministrator,thereforepreventingthejurisdictionofFIFA;and ThepartiesincludedajurisdictionclausereferringtotheNationalDisputeResolutionChamberoftheRomanianFootballFederation(FRF)/ProfessionalFootballLeague(PFL)(hereinafter:theRomanianNDRC)andsuchbodycomplieswithFIFA’srequirementsoncomposition,independence,andfairproceedings. 14.Theclubfiledthefollowingrelief: “31.Aftertheexaminationofalltheevidenceandargumentsoftheparties,werespectfullyrequestthehonourableChamber: I.TheinadmissibilityoftheCoach’sclaim(sic),basedonart.22let.c)oftheRegulationsontheStatusandTransferofPlayers,forlackofjurisdictionoftheFIFAjurisdictionalbodiestosettlethisdisputeonthemerits. II.Insubsidiary,ifFIFAtribunalconsiderthatiscompetenttosettlethisdispute,pursuanttoarticle26oftheProceduralRulesGoverningtheFootballTribunal,wewouldliketorequestthemediationprocedurewhichisdeemedappropriateinthematterandtheClaimantisgoingtoreceivethefullamount,butwithin25monthsofinstalmentsaccordingtothereorganizationplanandthesettlementproposalsenttohimbythespecialadministratoroftheinsolvencyprocedure”. III.ConsiderationsoftheDisputeResolutionChamber a.Competenceandapplicablelegalframework 15.Firstofall,theSingleJudgeoftheDisputeResolutionChamber(hereinafteralsoreferredtoasSingleJudge)analysedwhethershewascompetenttodealwiththecaseathand.Inthisrespect,shetooknotethatthepresentmatterwaspresentedtoFIFAon10October2023andsubmittedfordecisionon14November2023.Takingintoaccountthewordingofart.34oftheMay2023editionoftheProceduralRulesGoverningtheFootballTribunal(h