Elfeky

REF.FPSD-11112 Decisionofthe DisputeResolutionChamber passedon26October2023 regardinganemployment-relateddisputeconcerningtheplayerAhmedAchrafMohamedFeki BY: CliffordJ.Hendel(USA&France),DeputyChairperson JorgeGutiérrez(CostaRica),member StellaMarisJuncos(Argentina),member CLAIMANT: MrAhmedAchrafMohamedFeki RESPONDENT: ClubAlFaisaly,SaudiArabia REF.FPSD-11112 I.Factsofthecase 1.On24October2020,theplayer,AhmeeAchrafMohamedFeki,andAlFaisalyconcludedanemploymentcontractvalidasfromthedateofsignatureuntil24June2024. 2.Thecontractdesignatedthepartiesasfollows: 3.Accordingtoart.4ofthecontract,theplayerwasentitledtothefollowing: -SAR600,000assign-on-feepayableasfollow: -SAR400,000atthesignatureofthecontract. -SAR200,000on01/01/2021. -SAR136,363.00asmonthlysalary. -SAR30,000asaccommodationallowance. 4.On10March2021,theplayersufferedaninjuryduringanofficialmatch. 5.Accordingtotheplayer,theclubsubsequentlydecidedtoreducehissalaryasfollows: Month Salary Payment Percentage August2021 136,363SAR 102,272SAR 75% September2021 136,363SAR 102,272SAR 75% October2021 136,363SAR 102,272SAR 75% November2021 136,363SAR 102,272SAR 75% December2021 136,363SAR 68,182SAR 50% January2022 136,363SAR 68,182SAR 50% February2022 136,363SAR 68,182SAR 50% March2022 136,363SAR 68,182SAR 50% 6.On19July2022,theclubsentaterminationnoticetotheplayer,indicatingthefollowing: “Giventhatyourinjurypersistsformorethanayearwithoutareturn-to-playdate,preventingyoufromjoiningtheteamandtakingpartintrainingsandmatches,thatmaketheenforcementofthecontractconcludedbetweenthetwopartiesimpossibleandthecontractisnullandvoid. So,foryourinformation,yourcontractwithAl-FaisalyClubisterminated.” 7.TheplayerconcludedanemploymentcontractwiththeclubAltaawoun,validas from1September2023until30June2025. 8.Accordingly,theplayerwasentitledtothefollowingnetmonthlyremuneration: -Firstyear:SAR25,000 -Secondyear:SAR75,000 (itcanbeestimatedthat,from1September2023until24June2024,theplayerwouldearn10*25,000=SAR250,000). II.ProceedingsbeforeFIFA 9.On28July2023,theplayerlodgedaclaimbeforetheFIFAFootballTribunalforoutstandingremunerationandbreachofcontractwithoutjustcause,andrequestedthepaymentofthefollowingamounts: -Outstandingremuneration. -34,091SARasoutstandingamountfortheAugust2021salaryplus5%p.a.from01/09/2021 -34,091SARasoutstandingamountfortheSeptember2021salaryplus5%p.a.from01/10/2021. -34,091SARasoutstandingamountfortheOctober2021salaryplus5%p.a.from01/11/2021. -34,091SARasoutstandingamountfortheNovember2021salaryplus5%p.a.from01/12/2021 -68,181SARasoutstandingamountfortheDecember2021salaryplus5%p.a.from01/01/2022 -68,181SARasoutstandingamountfortheJanuary2022salaryplus5%p.a.from01/02/2022 -68,181SARasoutstandingamountfortheFebruary2022salaryplus5%p.a.from01/03/2022 -68,181SARasoutstandingamountfortheMarch2022salaryplus5%p.a.from01/04/2022. -136,363SARforthefullApril2022salaryplus5%p.a.from01/05/2022 -136,363SARforthefullMay2022salaryplus5%p.a.from01/06/2022 -136,363SARforthefullJune2022salaryplus5%p.a.from01/07/2022 -86,363.23SARfor19daysworkinJuly2022plus5%p.a.from01/08/2022. -282,086.64SARasmedicalexpensesplusinterestof5%p.a.from19July2022untiltheeffectivepayment -Compensation: -SAR3,992,712compensationforbreachofthecontractplus5%p.a.asfromthedateofnotificationof19July2022 10.Initsreply,theRespondentarguedthatFIFAisnotcompetenttodealwiththematterinsofartheplayerisaSaudinational,andnotEgyptian,asclaimed. 11.Theplayerattachedacopyoftheplayer’sbirthcertificate,whichestablishesthefollowing: 12.Theclubfurtherprovidedacopyoftheplayer’sregistrationinSaudiArabia,whichindicatesthefollowing: 13.Astothesubstance,andconcerningtheinjury,theclubarguedthattheplayerwasresponsibleforhisownnon-recoveryandthereforenotentitledtoaterminationindemnity. 14.TheclubacknowledgedthattheplayerhadsufferedacruciateligamentinjuryinMarch2021,butarguedthatithadofferedtohavehimoperatedonbyitsmedicalpartner.Theclubarguedthattheplayerhadpreferredtohavesurgerywithanotherdoctorandthat,subsequently,thesurgeryhadnotbeenasuccess.Theclubarguedthattheplayerhadnotfollowedthenecessarytreatment. 15.Theclubarguedthattheplayer’srefusaltoacceptitsofferofsurgeryandhisfailuretofollowthenecessarytreatmentaftersurgerydemonstratedthathewasresponsibleforhisownnon-recovery.Asaresult,theclubarguedthattheplayerwasnotentitledtoaterminationindemnity. 16.TheclubalsoarguedthatithadfullycompliedwithitsobligationsundertheSAFFplayerstatusregulationsandthatithadalwaysactedingoodfaithtowardstheplayer. 17.Inconclusion,theclubaskedtorejecttheplayer’srequestforaterminationindemnity. 18.Inhisreplica,theClaimantconsideredthatthereisnodoubtthatheisanEgyptiancitizenandtheclubisfromSaudiArabiaand,asaresult,thereisclearlyaninternationaldimensiontothedispute. 19.TheClaimantattached“acopyofe-visaentrytoKingdomofSaudiArabiaissuedbytheclubtotheplayerwhichputatermtothediscussioninrelationwithhisnationality(E-8)becausenoSaudicitizenwouldneedavisatoentertoKingdomofSaudiArabia.” 20.Inrelationtohisinjury,theplayerhighlightedth