A football coach, who is the victim of a serious accident that leaves him off work for several months, is entitled to receive, during this period of incapacity, payment of his monthly salaries. He is also entitled to be reimbursed for medical expenses incurred.
The firm BRUIN Avocat is delighted to have assisted the US football Coach J.N. in his dispute with his former club, based in Cambodia.
On March 28, 2023, the FIFA Players’ Status Chamber ruled a decision ordering the Club to pay the Coach his unpaid wages as well as a severance indemnity and the reimbursement of air tickets contractually owed by the Club.
During the term of his contract, the Coach had not received any salary from the Club following a serious traffic accident which had forced him to undergo a knee surgery and several months of rehabilitation, preventing him from taking to the field during this period. Nevertheless, he continued during this time his coaching missions remotely at the hospital.
In addition, all along his rehabilitation, the coach duly informed the Club of his medical situation, by writing.
In addition to the suspension of his wages, the Coach was confronted with a lack of medical support from the Club. He was even forced to advance part of the medical expenses necessary for his recovery.
Finally, the Coach was notified with a warning for alleged unjustified absence.
All the Coach’s attempts at an amicable settlement went unanswered.
Although duly informed, the Club did not submit its reply to the Coach’s claim on time before FIFA. Therefore, its argumentation, which was in any case irrelevant, could not be taken into account by the FIFA Players Status Chamber.
As a result, in accordance with the provisions of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and the Transfer of the Players Players and the jurisprudence of the Court of Arbitration for Sports and FIFA, the FIFA Players’ Status Chamber ordered the Club to pay the unpaid salaries and reimburse the medical expenses and plane tickets incurred by the coach.