Krasniqi

Decisionofthe DisputeResolutionChamber passedon10November2023 regardinganemployment-relateddisputeconcerningtheplayerBlerimKrasniqi BY: AlexandraGomezBruinewoud,Uruguay&theNetherlands CLAIMANT: BlerimKrasniqi,Albania RepresentedbyArsenSelmanaj RESPONDENT: CSMioveni,Romania RepresentedbyDiaconuSilviuConstantin I.Factsofthecase 1.On16August2022,theAlbanianplayer,BlerimKrasniqi(hereinafter:theplayerortheClaimant),andtheRomanianclub,CSMioveni(hereinafter:theclubortheRespondent),concludedanemploymentcontractvalidasfromthedateofsignatureuntil30June2024(hereinafter:theEmploymentContract). 2.Underclause4oftheEmploymentContract,theclubundertooktopaytotheplayerinteralia EUR7,100netasmonthlysalary. 3.On23May2023,thesamepartiesconcludedadocumenttitled“ContractTerminationforContractNumber117/17.08.2022”bymeansofwhichtheydecidedtoterminatetheiremploymentrelationshipandsettlethefinancialobligationsarisingthereto(hereinafter:theTerminationAgreement). 4.PursuanttotheTerminationAgreement,theclubundertooktopaytheplayeratotalofEUR40,000net,payableasfollows: a.EUR15,200netby31May2023; b.EUR7,600netby15June2023; c.EUR7,600netby15July2023;and d.EUR9,600netby15August2023. 5.Inaddition,theTerminationAgreementreadsasfollows:“Incasetheparties(sic)havemisunderstandingsregardingthiscontract,thecompetencetosolvethemwillbeexclusivelyFIFADRCandtheappealbodywillbeCAS”. 6.On14June2023,theclubsubmittedarequesttoopeninsolvencyproceedings(“preventiveconcordat”)beforethenationalcourtsinRomania. 7.On16June2023,theclubpaidRON38,000totheplayer. 8.On22June2023,theRomaniannationalcourtsadmittedtheclub’srequestforopeningofinsolvencyproceedingsandinteraliaappointedtheauthorizedadministrator(hereinafter:theAdministrator). 9.On7August2023,theAdministratorsubmittedarestructuringplanfortheclubandinteralia listedtheplayerascreditorofRON162,000. 10.On25September2023,theplayerputtheclubindefaultofpaymentofEUR32,400net,correspondingtothebalanceoftheSettlementAgreement(i.e.,EUR40,000minusEUR7,600paidbytheclub).Theplayergrantedthecluba10days’deadlineinordertoremedythebreach. II.ProceedingsbeforeFIFA 11.On6October2023,theplayerfiledtheclaimathandbeforeFIFA.Abriefsummaryofthepositionofthepartiesisdetailedincontinuation. a.Positionoftheplayer 12.Inhisclaim,theplayerexplainedthattheclubfailedtocomplywithitsfinancialdutiespertheTerminationAgreement.Consequently,herequestedtobeawardedthetotalamountofEUR32,400netcorrespondingtothebalanceofthefirstinstalment(i.e.,EUR7,600)plustheotherthreeremaininginstalments. 13.Theplayeralsorequestedtobeawardedinterestof5%p.a.asfromtherespectiveduedates. b.Positionoftheclub 14.On31October2023,theclubfileditsreplytotheclaim. 15.Initsreply,theclubchallengedFIFA’sjurisdictiononthebasisofthefactthatitisundergoingaspecificalprocedureofinsolvency(“preventiveconcordat”)underthenationallaw.Assuch,thecluballegedthatanyandallclaimsshouldbesuspendedandhandledexclusivelybytheRomaniancourts.Likewise,thecreditoftheplayerhadalreadybeenconsideredinrestructuringplanissuedbytheAdministrator,thereforepreventingthejurisdictionofFIFA. 16.Theclubfiledthefollowingrelief: “31.Aftertheexaminationofalltheevidenceandargumentsoftheparties,werespectfullyrequestthehonourableChamber: I.TheinadmissibilityoftheCoach’sclaim(sic),basedonart.22let.c)oftheRegulationsontheStatusandTransferofPlayers,forlackofjurisdictionoftheFIFAjurisdictionalbodiestosettlethisdisputeonthemerits. II.Insubsidiary,ifFIFAtribunalconsiderthatiscompetenttosettlethisdispute,pursuanttoarticle26oftheProceduralRulesGoverningtheFootballTribunal,wewouldliketorequestthemediationprocedurewhichisdeemedappropriateinthematterandtheClaimantisgoingtoreceivethefullamount,butwithin34monthsofinstalmentsaccordingtothereorganizationplanandthesettlementproposalsenttohimbythespecialadministratoroftheinsolvencyprocedure”. III.ConsiderationsoftheDisputeResolutionChamber a.Competenceandapplicablelegalframework 17.Firstofall,theSingleJudgeoftheDisputeResolutionChamber(hereinafteralsoreferredtoasSingleJudge)analysedwhethershewascompetenttodealwiththecaseathand.Inthisrespect,shetooknotethatthepresentmatterwaspresentedtoFIFAon6October2023andsubmittedfordecisionon13November2023.Takingintoaccountthewordingofart.34oftheMay2023editionoftheProceduralRulesGoverningtheFootballTribunal(hereinafter:theProceduralRules),theaforementionededitionoftheProceduralRulesisapplicabletothematterathand. 18.Subsequently,theSingleJudgereferredtoart.2par.1oftheProceduralRulesandobservedthatinaccordancewithart.23par.1incombinationwithart.22par.lit.b)oftheFIFARSTP(May2023edition),theDisputeResolutionChamber(DRC)is–inprinciple–competenttodealwiththematteratstake,whichconcernsanemployment-relateddisputewithaninternationaldimensionbetweenaFrenchplayerandaRomanianclub. 19.Notwithstandingtheabove,theSingleJudgeacknowledgedthattheclubchallengedthejurisdictionoftheFootballTribunaltodealwiththematterathandduetotheongoingprocedureofinsolvency(“preventiveconcordat”),theexclusivecompetenceoverthisdisputelieswithnationalcourtsofRomania. 20.Onth