Van Velzen

Decisionofthe DisputeResolutionChamber passedon23October2023 regardinganemployment-relateddisputeconcerningtheplayerGylianovanVelzen BY: PhilippeDIALLO(France) CLAIMANT: GylianovanVelzen,Netherlands RESPONDENT: Pegeia2014,Cyprus I.Factsofthecase 1.On16August2022,theplayerGylianovanVelzenandtheCypriotclubPEGEIA2014concludedanemploymentcontractvalidasfromthedateofsignatureuntil31May2023. 2.Accordingtoart.1.3ofthecontract,theplayerwasentitledtoamonthlysalaryofEUR1,700net(EUR1,886.15gross).Thecontractindicatedthat“AlltaxespayabletotheTaxDepartment,aspertheapplicablelegislation,shallbepaidbytheClub.” 3.Inaddition,theplayerwasentitledtothefollowingbenefitsandallowances: -Accomodation. -2sharedcarsfromtheteamforalltheplayers -1flyticketwithreturnforthisseason. 4.On24April2023,theclubsentthefollowingcorrespondencetotheplayer: “Aboutyourrequesttogob.1ckinyourcountrybeforethelastgameandbeforeyourexpireddateofyourcontract,asPEYIA2014F.C.andasacommitteeafterourmeetingtodayat18:30,wetookanewdecisionandwedenythefirstonewhichpresidenttoldyouintheWhatsAppat15:31andwedon'tallowyoutoleavethecountrybeforethelastgamewhichison30thofApril2023andbeforethelastdateofyourcontractwhichison31/05/2023. Also,youhavenotpaidyetallyourutilitybillsofyouraccommodationandalsothedamagesonthecarandyouhavetodoitsooninthenextdays.” 5.On1May2023,theclubsentalettertotheplayer,informinghimthathe“illegal[y]disappearedfromthetrainings”andgranted2daysbeforereceivingapenalty. 6.On5May2023,theclubsentanewletterindicatingthat“fromtodaywehavetherighttoputanypenaltyonyouortobreakourcontractagreement” 7.On18May2023,theclubsentalettertotheclub,indicatingthathemustpaytheutilitybillsofhisapartment(electricity,waterandinternet)foratotalamountofEUR1,407aswellasdamagesinapartment(EUR100).Theclubalsoindicatedthattheplayer“burnedtheengineofthecar”thatwasprovidedtohim,notingthatthevaluationofthecarisapprox.EUR2,500.TheclubfurtherindicatedthatafineofEUR500wasimposedagainsthimandthat,asaresult,hissalaryofApril2023hadtobededucted.Theclubgranted5daystotheplayertopresenthisobjections. 8.On12May2023,theclubsentanotherletterindicatingthefollowing: “Wedecidetofineallofthesquadfordisciplinarymeasureandinordertodeterallofyoufromengaginginundesirableconductandtoensurethatyouwillreceivepunishmentforyouractions. Followingalltheabove,theBoarddecidetowithholdonemonthlysalaryforeveryonandeachofyouasafine. Ifsomeonedisagreeswiththeabovefine,hehastherighttoappealontheabovedecisionbysubmittingaformalgrievancetotheclubnolaterthan5daysafterthereceivableofthepresent.” 9.On24May2023,theplayer(viatheDutchPlayer’sUnion)sentadefaultnoticetotheclubrequestedthepaymentofEUR1,700forhissalaryofApril2023,whilerejectedtheargumentsoftheclubinrelationtotheutilitycosts,theaccommodation,thecardamagesaswellasthefineofEUR500. 10.On1June2023,theclubwrotetheplayer(viatheDutchPlayer’sUnion),whilenotedthattheplayer“doesnotrespectthathehascausedusmuchmorefinancialdamagethanhislastmonthlywage,buthealsohastheaudacitytoaskingustopayhimontopofthat.” 11.Theplayerrepliedon8June2023anddeniedtheclub’saccusations. 12.On13June2023,theclubsentanewcorrespondenceandindicatedthattheplayeris“freetoclaimanyamountattheDRCoratanyotherauthority”. II.ProceedingsbeforeFIFA 13.On27July2023,theplayerlodgedaclaimbeforetheFIFAFootballTribunalforoutstandingremunerationandrequestedthepaymentofEUR1,700net,correspondingtohissalaryofApril2023,plus5%interestp.a.asfromtheduedate. 14.TheplayerarguedthattheclubisrefusingtopayhislastsalaryforthemonthofApril2023,duetoallegedpoorperformanceandmisconduct,anddeniedsaidaccusations. 15.Theplayerfurtherindicatedthattheclubwantedtopassonthecostofelectricity,water,andinternet,eventhoughthecontractdoesnotstatethatthesecostsaretobebornebyhim. 16.Theplayerexplainedthattheclubisalsotryingchargehimfordamagetotheaccommodationandthecarprovidedbythelatter,butarguedthattheclubhasnotprovidedanyevidenceofthedamage. 17.TheplayeralsoindicatedthattheclubimposedafineonhimforallegedlyleavingCyprusearly,eventhoughheobtainedpermissiontoleaveandisentitledtotakeholidays. 18.Theclubrepliedtotheclaimandsimultaneouslylodgedacounterclaimagainsttheplayer. 19.TheclubstatedthattheplayerbreachedhiscontractualobligationsandcausedafinancialdamagethatamountstoEUR4.507,11. 20.Inaddition,theclubexplainedthatafineofEUR500wasimposedforhisunjustifiedabsentbeforethelastmatchofthesportingseason. 21.Furthermore,theclubexplainedthatthecaritprovidedbytheplayerwasdamaged,withrepaircostsofEUR2,500. 22.Asaresult,theclubconsideredthattheplayershallbeorderedtopayEUR2,807.11(i.e.EUR1,700–4,507.11) 23.Inhisreplica,theClaimantcontestedtheevidenceprovidedbytheclub. III.ConsiderationsoftheDisputeResolutionChamber a.Competenceandapplicablelegalframework 1.Firstofall,theSingleJudgeoftheDisputeResolutionChamber(hereinafteralsoreferredtoasSingleJudgeorJudge)analysedwhetherhewascompetenttodealwiththecaseathand.Inthisrespect,ittooknotethatthepresentmatterwaspresentedtoFIFAon27July2023andsubmittedfordecisionon11October2023.Takingintoaccounttheword