Vega

Decisionofthe Players’StatusChamber passedon6November2023 regardingadisputeconcerningthetransferoftheplayerFaustoMarianoVega BY: JesúsArroyo(Spain),SingleJudgeofthePSC CLAIMANT: AsociaciónAtléticaArgentinosJuniors,Argentina RepresentedbySENN,FERRERO,ASOCIADOS,SPORTS&ENTERTAINMENT,S.L.P. RESPONDENT: SportClubCorinthiansPaulista,Brazil RepresentedbyMrSergioVenturaEngelbergandMrFabioSader I.Factsofthecase 1.On22July2022,thepartiesconcludedanagreementoverthepermanenttransferoftheplayer,FaustoMarianoVerafromtheClaimanttotheRespondent(hereinafter:thetransferagreement).Inaccordancewithclause2.1ofthetransferagreement,theRespondentundertooktopaytotheClaimanttheamountofUSD3,450,000net(clause11ofthecontractspecifiesthatthepaymentscontainedinthetransferagreementarenet)astransfercompensation,asfollows: -USD1,650,000netby1July2023; -USD1,800,000netby1July2024. 2.Inaccordancewithclause6ofthetransferagreement,thepartiesagreedthat,shouldtheRespondentfailtomakethepaymentofthefirstinstalmentofthetransfercompensationbyitsduedate,theremainingvalueofthetransfercompensationwouldimmediatelyfalldue(accelerationclause).Inaddition,thepartiesagreed,alsounderclause6ofthetransferagreement,that–incaseofdefaultofpayment–theRespondentwouldhavetopaytotheClaimantadefaultinterestattherateof5%permonth,i.e.60%perannum. 3.Bymeansofitsletterdated4July2023,theClaimantputtheRespondentindefaultofpaymentintheamountofUSD1,650,000net,correspondingtothefirstinstalmentofthetransfercompensation,urgingtheRespondenttoimmediatelyproceedwiththepaymentofsaidamount,tonoavail. 4.Thereafter,on19and23July2023,theClaimantsentnewdefaultnoticestotheRespondent,thistimerequestingtheRespondenttoproceedwiththepaymentofthefulltransfercompensationcf.clause.6ofthetransferagreement. 5.On15September2023,theClaimantsentafinalnoticetotheRespondent,therebyurgingthelatter,again,toproceedwiththepaymentofthetransfercompensationandthecontractuallyagreeddefaultinterest,grantingtheRespondentadeadlineof10daystodoso,tonoavail II.ProceedingsbeforeFIFA a.PositionoftheClaimant 6.On28September2023,theClaimantlodgedaclaimagainsttheRespondentbeforeFIFA,requestingtobeawardedthefullamountofthetransfercompensationintheamountofUSD3,450,000,plus5%interestpermonthor,subsidiary,interestof18%p.a.,asfrom2July2023untilthedateofeffectivepayment. 7.Initsclaim,theClaimantheldthatdespitehavingvalidlyenteredintothetransferagreement,theRespondenthasconstantlyfailedtorespectit,evenafterhavingbeenputindefaultofpaymentbytheClaimant. 8.Inaddition,theClaimantarguedthatitevenofferedtheRespondentdifferentalternativesfortheRespondenttopaytheamountdueinamorefavourablemanner,viacreditcession,butthattheRespondentfailedtoacceptsaidoffers. b.PositionoftheRespondent 9.Initsreply,theRespondentargued,interalia,thefollowing: -ThattheRespondentacknowledgesbeingindefaultofpaymentofthefirstinstalmentofthetransfercompensation. -Thatthesecondinstalmentofthetransfercompensationisnotyetdue. -That“forcingCorinthianstopaythefullamountofUSD3,450,000inthismomentcouldplacetheRespondentinaverydifficultfinancialsituation,notonlybythefactthatCorinthianshasseveralfinancialcommitments,suchastaxandsalarypayment,butalsobecausetheaccelerationclausemightrepresentanabusivepenalty.” III.ConsiderationsofthePlayers’StatusChamber a.Competenceandapplicablelegalframework 10.Firstofall,theSingleJudgeofthePlayers’StatusChamber(hereinafteralsoreferredtoastheSingleJudge)analysedwhetherhewascompetenttodealwiththecaseathand.Inthisrespect,hetooknotethatthepresentmatterwaspresentedtoFIFAon28September2023andsubmittedfordecisionon6November2023.Takingintoaccountthewordingofart.34oftheMarch2023editionoftheProceduralRulesGoverningtheFootballTribunal(hereinafter:theProceduralRules),theaforementionededitionoftheProceduralRulesisapplicabletothematterathand. 11.Subsequently,theSingleJudgereferredtoart.2par.1oftheProceduralRulesandobservedthatinaccordancewithart.23par.2incombinationwithart.22lit.g.)oftheRegulationsontheStatusandTransferofPlayers(May2023edition),thePlayers’StatusChamberiscompetenttodealwiththematteratstake,whichconcernsdisputesbetweenclubsbelongingtodifferentassociations. 12.Subsequently,theSingleJudgeanalysedwhichregulationsshouldbeapplicableastothesubstanceofthematter.Inthisrespect,heconfirmedthat,inaccordancewithart.26par.1and2oftheRegulationsontheStatusandTransferofPlayers(May2023edition)andconsideringthatthepresentclaimwaslodgedon28September2023,theMay2023editionofsaidregulations(hereinafter:theRegulations)isapplicabletothematterathandastothesubstance. b.Burdenofproof 13.TheSingleJudgerecalledthebasicprincipleofburdenofproof,asstipulatedinart.13par.5oftheProceduralRules,accordingtowhichapartyclaimingarightonthebasisofanallegedfactshallcarrytherespectiveburdenofproof.Likewise,theSingleJudgestressedthewordingofart.13par.4oftheProceduralRules,pursuanttowhichhemayconsiderevidencenotfiledbytheparties,includingwithoutlimitationtheevidencegeneratedbyorwithintheTransferMatchingSystem(TMS). c.Meritsofthedispute 14.Hiscompetenceandtheapplicableregu