Gencturk

Decisionofthe Players’StatusChamber passedon9October2023 regardinganemployment-relateddisputeconcerningthecoachSenerGencturk COMPOSITION: JavierVIJANDEPENAS(Argentina),ChairpersonCastellarGUIMARAESNETO(Brazil),memberJesúsARROYO(Spain),member CLAIMANT/COUNTER-RESPONDENT: SenerGencturk,Türkiye RepresentedbyMincuPaulAlenxandru RESPONDENT/COUNTER-CLAIMANT: AlRaed,SaudiArabia RepresentedbyPedroMacieirinha I.Factsofthecase 1.On27July2022,theTurkishcoach,SenerGencturk(hereinafter:thecoachortheClaimant/Counter-Respondent)andtheSaudiArabianclub,AlRaed(hereinafter:theclubortheRespondent/Counter-Claimant)concludedanemploymentcontract(hereinafter:thecontract)validasfrom1July2022until30June2024. 2.Accordingtothecontract,theclubundertooktopaythecoachamonthlysalaryofUSD7,000net,payableattheendofeachmonth. 3.Clause2ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “Underthiscontract,the[coach]isspecificallyobligatedto: 1)Assumesoleresponsibilityforpreparationandimplementationoffirstteamtrainingsandselectionofplayerstobethefirstteamsquad(includingselectionofplayerstoparticipateinanymatchinanycompetition,inwhichtheFirstteamparticipates); 2)Managingthefirstteamduringallcompetitionsinwhichthefirstteamparticipates,includingthecompetitionsoftheKingdomofSaudiArabiaandAFC,forwhichthefirstteamwillqualify. 3)Trainingmanagementwiththeteamcoachandfirstteammedicalstaff. 4)Directparticipationinthepreparationofthefirstteamforallcompetitionsinwhichthefirstteamparticipates. 5)Preparingalltrainingplansforthefirstteamaswellasplansforadditionalactivitiesanddevelopmentforplayersandmembersofthecoachingstaff. 6)Cooperatingwiththeclub'sboardofdirectors,thesportingdirectoroftheclubandotherpersonsdesignatedbytheclub. 7)CollaboratewiththepersonsdesignatedbytheClubresponsibleforthepreparationandmanagementofClub'sFirstTeam. 8)Takecareofapropertyrenderedtohim,includingi.e.,sportequipment,forwhichheisliable; 9)TakecareofhishealthandAssistantCoachfitnessinmaximummeaningandheshallattendthemedicalexaminations,ifrequired. 10)ProvidetheClub'sManagementBoardwithallreasonablyrequestedinformationorexplanationwhichareconnectedwiththesubjectmatteroftheContract. 11)Beresponsibleforalltrainings,camps,officialandfriendlygamesoftheFirstTeam. 12)ObservediligentlyallagreementsconcludedbytheClub,includingbutnotlimitedtoagreementsconcludedwiththeClub'stechnicalsponsors,Club'smajorsponsorsandallothersponsorsandpartnersoftheClub. 13)WearsportclothesindicateanddeliveredbytheClub,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.Clause5.1ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “TeamMatchesBonuses 50%(i.e.,fiftypercent)ofallFirstTeammatchesbonuses(victory)tobepaidtotheplayersoftheFirstTeamoftheClubwillbepaidtoMr.SENERGENCTURKtheAssistantCoach(atthelastdayofeverymonthfollowingthesportingperformances).” 5.Clause5.2ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “ObjectiveandSportingBonuses [thecoach]rewardsarefinallydueonMay31ofeachseasonincasetheclubachievetheobjectivesbelowforthedurationofthiscontract,thecoachshallbeentitledto: inSaudProLeague”forthefirst4bonuslike“TopFourpositioninSaudiProLeague” […]” 6.Clause8ofthecontractreadsasfollows: “A.Bothpartiesareentitledtoterminatethiscontractbeforeitsendandforwhatsoeverreasonprovidedthatthecounterpartyshallbepaidthefollowingcompensation: Thepartythatterminatesthecontractshallpaytheotherpartytheequivalentoffourmonths’salaryaspenaltyclausewithmutualconsent. B.IncasetheClubterminatesthecontractwithTheHeadCoach.SUMUDICAMARIUS-NINEL,thecontractoftheAssistantCoachshallbeterminatedautomaticallyaswellandtheClubpaysthepenaltyclausementionedinthiscontractclause(8.A). C.IncasetheHeadCoachterminatesthecontractwithTheClub,thecontractoftheAssistantCoachshallbeterminatedautomaticallyaswellandpaytheClubthepenaltyclausementionedinthiscontract(8.A)” 7.On15June2023,theheadcoach,Mr.ȘumudicăMarius-Ninel,senttotheclubaproposalofthetrainingcamplocation,durationandtrainingschedule. 8.On20June2023,thelegalrepresentativeofthecoachsentalettertotheclubinthenameoftheentirecoachingstaff(includingthecoach),askingittoclarifythedetailsoftheteamreunionwhichappearedinthesupporters’websiteandtoprovideairplaneticketsforthecoachinordertojointheteamcamp. 9.On22June2023,theclub,throughitsrepresentative,mentionedthat,ifanycommunicationisneeded,itwouldbedulyinformedinduecourse. 10.Onthesamedate,22June2023,thelegalr