Marius-Ninel

Decisionofthe Players’StatusChamber passedon9October2023 regardinganemployment-relateddisputeconcerningthecoachçumudicăMarius-Ninel COMPOSITION: JavierVIJANDEPENAS(Argentina),ChairpersonCastellarGUIMARAESNETO(Brazil),memberJesúsARROYO(Spain),member CLAIMANT/COUNTER-RESPONDENT: çumudicăMarius-Ninel,Romania RepresentedbyMincuPaulAlenxandru RESPONDENT/COUNTERCLAIMANT: AlRaed,SaudiArabia RepresentedbyPedroMacieirinha I.Factsofthecase 1.On28June2022,theRomaniancoach,ȘumudicăMarius-Ninel(hereinafter:thecoachortheClaimant/Counter-Respondent)andtheSaudiArabianclub,AlRaed(hereinafter:theclubortheRespondent/Counter-Claimant)concludedanemploymentcontract(hereinafter:thecontract)validasfrom1July2022until30June2024. 2.Accordingtothecontract,theclubundertooktopaythecoachthefollowingamounts: -AsignoffeeofUSD350,000net:USD175,000netpayableon30July2022andUSD175,000netpayableon30September2022. -AmonthlysalaryofUSD59,500netfromJuly2022untilJune2023,payableonthelastdayofeachmonth. -Asign-onfeeofUSD350,000net:USD175,000netpayableon30July2023andUSD175,000netpayableon30September2023. -AmonthlysalaryofUSD59,500netfromJuly2023untilJune2023,payableonthelastdayofeachmonth. 3.Clause2ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “UnderthisContract,the[coach]isobligedinparticularto: 1)HavesoleresponsibilityforpreparationandcarryingoutoftrainingsofFirstTeamandselectionofplayerstobeinthesquadoftheFirstTeam(includingselectionofplayerstoparticipateinanymatchinanycompetition,inwhichtheFirstteamisinvolved); 2)ManagetheFirstTeamduringallcompetitionsinwhichtheFirstTeamparticipates,includingKSAandAFCcompetitions,towhichtheFirstTeamwillqualify; 3)ManagethetrainingandmedicalstaffoftheFirstTeam; 4)DirectinvolvementinthepreparationoftheFirstTeamforallcompetitionsinwhichtheFirstTeamparticipates; 5)PreparingalltrainingplansfortheFirstTeamaswellasplansofadditionalactivitiesanddevelopmentforitsplayersandmembersofthecoachingstaff. 6)CooperatewiththeManagementBoardoftheClub,theSportDirectoroftheClubandotherpersonsindicatedbytheclub. 7)CooperatewithpersonsindicatedbytheClubresponsibleforpreparationsandmanagementofClub'sFirstTeam. 8)Takecareofapropertyrenderedtohim,includingi.e.,sportequipment,forwhichheisliable; 9)Takecareofhishealthandphysicalfitnessinmaximummeaningandheshallattendthemedicalexaminations,ifrequired. 10)ProvidetheClub'sManagementBoardwithallreasonablyrequestedinformationorexplanationwhichareconnectedwiththesubjectmatteroftheContract. 11)Beresponsibleforalltrainings,camps,officialandfriendlygamesoftheFirstTeam. 12)ObservediligentlyallagreementsconcludedbytheClub,includingbutnotlimitedtoagreementsconcludedwiththeClub'stechnicalsponsors,Club'smajorsponsorsandallothersponsorsandpartnersoftheClub. 13)WearsportclothesindicatedanddeliveredbytheClub,togetherwithadvertisementplacedtherein,unlesstheClubagreesotherwise. 14)AccepttheuseanddispositionofhisimagerightsbytheClubascoachexclusivelyinanymediaandthoseofhisfinancialrightsarisingtherefrombytheClubonlyduringhisContract. 15)Acceptthefollowingmattersbutwithoutlimitation,withoutdemandinganyremunerationsorcompensationduringthetermofhisemploymentforthedispositionofhisvisualimages(bothinmotionornot),namesornicknamesonthefollowingnamely. •Club'semblem,brand,colororothermerchandisegoodsbytheClub(shirt,trainingsuits,scarf,memorystamps,money,etc.)orstationeriesasdeterminedbytheClub. •TV,radio,newspapers,magazines,periodicalpublishing,billboards,panelandetc.,ownedorcontrolleddirectlyorindirectlybytheClubastobedeterminedexclusivelybytheClub.” 4.Clause5.2ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “TeamMatchesBonuses 100%(i.e.,onehundredpercent)ofallFirstTeammatchesbonuses(victory)tobepaidtotheplayersoftheFirstTeamoftheClubwillbepaidtoMr.SUMUDICAMARIUS-NINELtheCoach(atthelastdayofeverymonthfollowingthesportingperformances).” 5.Clause5.3ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “ObjectiveandSportingBonuses ThebonusesareduepayabletotheCoachatlastonMay31ofeachseason. Incasetheclubachievetheobjectivesbelowforthedurationofthiscontract,thecoachshallbeentitledto: inSaudProLeague”forthefirst4bonuslike“TopFourpositioninSaudiProLeague”” 6.Clause8ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “A.Bothpartiesareentitledtoterminatethiscontractbeforeitsendandforwhatsoeverreasonprovidedthatthecounterpartyshallbepaidthefollowingcompensation: thepartythatterminatethecontractshallpaytheotherpartytheequivalentoffourmonths’salaryaspenaltyclausewithmutualconsent. B.IncasetheClubterminatesthecontractwithTheHeadCoach,thecontractsofhisstaffshallbeterminatedautomaticallyaswellandtheClubpaysthepenaltyclausementionedinthisContractofeachstaffmember. C.IncasetheHeadCoachterminatesthecontractwithTheClub,thecontractsofhisstaffmembershallbeterminatedautomaticallyaswellandthetechnicalstaffpaysthepenaltyclausementionedintheContractofeachstaffmember.” 7.Onanunspecifieddate,thecoachandtheclubagreedtoamendclause5ofthecontract,asfrom1January2023,andaccordingly,thecoachwouldbeentitledtothefollowingamounts: -USD71,166netpayableinJanuary2023. -FromFebruary2023toJune2023,amonthlysalaryofU