Laudos del TAS sobre Fútbol - DERECHO DEL FUTBOL NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL

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Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
                                   Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014

                            DERECHO DEL FUTBOL
                         NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL
                           Seminario Permanente

         Laudos del TAS sobre Fútbol
                          Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.         Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   1
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

  Tribunal Arbitral du Sport
            (TAS)
 In its judgment of 27 May 2003
  (Lazutina case, 4P.267-270/2002),
  the Swiss Federal Tribunal qualified
  the CAS as “one of the main pillars
  of organized sport” and (quoting
  Juan Antonio Samaranch) “a true
  supreme court of the sports                                      Seated in Lausanne,
  world”, and stated that “there                                    Switzerland

  appears to be no viable alternative to                           Established by the IOC in
                                                                    1984
  this institution, which can resolve
                                                                   Reformed and passed under
  international sports-related disputes
                                                                    the control of an independent
  quickly and inexpensively”.
                                                                    foundation (ICAS) in 1994
Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.            Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   2
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

          The Code of
         Sports-related
           Arbitration
       (the “CAS Code”)

      The current version is in
         force as of 1 March
                2013

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.            Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   3
Table of Contents

              I.         Transfer of Minor Players

              II.        A “Virtual” Corruption Case

              III. The FC Sion Case

              IV. License Case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.           Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   4
I. Transfer of Minor Players

Art. 19 FIFA                       A)Principle:
RSTP
Protection of                          International transfers of players under 18
Minors                                 are prohibited (both professionals and
                                       amateurs)

                                   B) Purpose:
  (CAS 2007/A/1403,
  RC Racing de
  Santander SAD vs
  Club Estudiantes de              i.To protect minor players from abuse and
  la Plata, para. 81)

                                     mistreatment
                                   ii.To give legal certainty through consistent
                                     implementation

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   5
I. Transfer of Minor Players

Art. 19 C) Only three exceptions:
Sec. 2.a a.      NO LINK WITH FOOTBALL: The player’s parents move to
FIFA       the country in which the new club is located for reasons not linked to
RSTP       football.

Art. 19 b.         EU/EEA: The transfer takes place within the territory of the
          European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) and the
Sec. 2.b player is aged between 16 and 18. In this case, the new club must
FIFA      fulfill the following minimum obligations:
RSTP        i. adequate football education and training
                     ii. academic and/or school and/or job education and/or training
                     iii. all necessary arrangements for private life
                     iv. confirmatory statement to other national association.

Art. 19 c. BORDER LOCATIONS: The player lives no further than 50km from
Sec. 2.c  a national border and the club with which the player wishes to be
FIFA      registered in the neighbouring association is also within 50km of that
          border. The maximum distance between the player’s domicile and
RSTP      the club’s headquarters shall be 100km
 Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   6
I. Transfer of Minor Players

                                     CAS 2005/A/955-956 Cádiz CF & Acuña v.
                                      FIFA & Asociación Paraguaya Futbol
                                    - 14 February 2005: Player is 16. He travels to Spain with
                                      his mother and younger brother
                                    - 17 February 2005: Cádiz CF & Player sign employment
                                      contract; Cádiz CF & Olimpia Asunción sign transfer
                                      agreement
Carlos Javier
Acuña Caballero                     - 20 February 2005: Player’s mother signs employment
Born 23 June 1988                     contract with restaurant
Paraguay                            - 22 June 2005: Paraguayan FA refuses ITC requested by
                                      RFEF because of the Player’s age. Request for ITC is
                                      made to FIFA
                                    - 26 August 2005: FIFA Single Judge Players’ Status
                                      refuses ITC
                                    - 8 September 2005: Appeal to the CAS
 Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.               Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   7
I. Transfer of Minor Players

                                   - Player:
                                    - FIFA rules are void because they contradict national and
                                      international mandatory principles of public policy
                                    - Mother’s move to Spain not linked to football; a friend
                                      had recommended her to search for a job in Cádiz
                                    - Mother lived in Asunción; divorced from father
                                    - In Paraguay Player lived in his agent’s house in
                                      Encarnación
                                    - Player followed the mother and had a much better life in
                                      Spain

                                   - FIFA:
                                     - Art. 19 FIFA RSTP must be interpreted strictly
                                     - Difficult situation in Paraguay cannot be an additional
                                       exception
                                     - Player’s move was linked to football

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.                Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   8
I. Transfer of Minor Players

                                   - CAS Award of 28 December 2005:

                                   - FIFA rules are valid: they pursue a legitimate
                                    objective and they are proportionate to such
                                    objective

                                   - The move was clearly linked to football

                                   - Difficult situation for the Player? It’s the fault of
                                    the Club

                                   - The Player will anyway turn 18 in six months

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.                 Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   9
I. Transfer of Minor Players

                                    TAS 2012/A/2787 Villarreal CF c/ FIFA

Bartas                         - July 2011: Bartas Wiktoruk is 12. He travels to Spain
Wiktoruk                         with his family (father, mother and sister)
born 6                         - August 2011: Contacts with Villareal to join the Club
March 1999                     - 7 November 2011: father signs employment contract as a
Poland                           worker for Pamesa Ceramica SL
                               - 7 November 2011: Villareal asks RFEF to register the
                                 Player
                               - 24 November 2011: RFEF requests via TMS authorization
                                 to register the Player, based on art. 19 sec. 2 FIFA RSTP
                               - 6 December 2011: FIFA Single Judge Players’ Status
                                 refuses ITC, because there are serious doubts on whether
                                 the move to Spain was not linked to football
                               - 2 May 2012 Appeal to CAS

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   10
I. Transfer of Minor Players

                                   - Club:
                                    - Move to Spain not linked to football: family's decision
                                      for father’s difficult economic situation in Poland
                                    - Father was already specialized in ceramics and close to
                                      Villareal there is a ceramics industrial district
                                    - Charter of Fundamental Rights is violated

                                   - FIFA:
                                    - Art. 19 FIFA RSTP must be interpreted strictly
                                    - Move also related to football is sufficient to prevent the
                                      exception
                                    - Burden of prove is on the Club and it did not prove the
                                      applicability of the exception

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.                Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   11
I. Transfer of Minor Players

                    - CAS Award of April 2013:
                       - Article 19 applicable also to amateur players
                       - Burden of proof lies with Club
                       - Father’s interview with a Polish newspaper that he would
                         not hesitate to move abroad to facilitate his son’s career
                       - Link between Player and Club started 3 months before
                         father’s employment contract
                       - Interest of Player to play in new country is understandable,
                         but irrelevant
                       - Art. 19 must be applied strictly because it protects the well
                         being of minors
                       - Art. 19 does not violate EU rules on free movement nor the
                         EU Charter on Fundamental Rights

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   12
I. Transfer of Minor Players

                                      Conclusion:
                                       In 2011 over 13,000 young people under 18
                                        were signed by clubs in other countries
                                       Players under 18 move most commonly by
                                        following their parents: almost 90% of the
                                        13,000 transfers of minors in 2011 were
                                        covered by the exemptions
                                       Is the framework under art. 19 RSTP helping to
                                        ensure that minors are protected?

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.              Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   13
II. A “Virtual” Corruption Case

   In 2011, 3 members of the FIFA Executive Committee – Amos
    Adamu (Nigeria), Amadou Diakite (Mali) and Ahongalu
    Fusimalohi (Tonga) – appealed to the CAS against the decisions
    of the FIFA Appeal Committee imposing on them a ban from any
    football-related activity at national and international level for 3
    years and a fine of CHF 10,000

   The specificity of these 3 cases lies in the fact that the Appellants
    were filmed and recorded by hidden cameras and recorders, while
    meeting twice with undercover Sunday Times journalists posing
    as lobbyists trying to support the US bid for the 2018 and 2022
    FIFA World Cups. Those recordings were given by the Sunday
    Times to FIFA and were the basis of those cases

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.              Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   14
II. A “Virtual” Corruption Case

 The FIFA Executive Committee consists of 24 members: the
  President, 8 vice-presidents, and 15 members appointed by the
  Confederations and the National Federations

 The Executive Committee decides the host country and dates of the
  final phases of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments

 For the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the following countries bid to host the
  final phase: Russia, England, Belgium-Netherlands, Spain-Portugal

 For the 2022 FIFA World Cup the bidders were Australia, Japan,
  Korea, Qatar, USA

 On 2 December 2010, the FIFA Executive Committee chose Russia
  for 2018 and Qatar for 2022

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.              Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   15
II. A “Virtual” Corruption Case

 On 17 October 2010, the British weekly newspaper
  Sunday Times published an article entitled “Foul play
  threatens England’s Cup bid; Nations spend vast
  amounts in an attempt to be named World Cup host but
  as insight finds, $ 800,000 offered to a FIFA official can
  be far more effective”
 The newspaper reported strong suspicions of corruption
  in connection with the tender process to host the World
  Cups and concluded that it was more effective and
  cheaper to obtain the organization of the World Cup by
  offering bribes than by presenting a serious bid
 The covert inquiry was conducted by some Sunday Times journalists
  who approached several FIFA executives pretending to be lobbyists
  working for a private company allegedly named Franklin Jones, hired
  by US companies eager to secure deals to unofficially support the
  official bids presented by the US federation
 Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.              Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   16
II. A “Virtual” Corruption Case

  CAS 2011/A/2426 Amos Adamu v. FIFA
   Award of 24 February 2012

  TAS 2011/A/2433 Amadou Diakite c. FIFA
   Award of 8 march 2012

  CAS 2011/A/2425 Ahongalu Fusimalohi v. FIFA
   Award of 8 March 2012

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.              Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   17
II. A “Virtual” Corruption Case

      CAS 2011/A/2426 Amos Adamu v. FIFA

       Mr Adamu was contacted via email and telephone by two
        reporters – a man and a woman – who did not reveal their
        true identity and profession but presented themselves as
        “David Brewster” and “Claire” of Franklin Jones. In the
        Summer of 2010 the reporters obtained to organize two
        meetings with Mr Adamu, one in London and one in Cairo

       On 31 August 2010, in a London hotel bar, Mr Adamu met the
        two undercover reporters allegedly working for Franklin Jones.
        The conversation lasted about 45 minutes

       On 15 September 2010, in the garden bar of a hotel in Cairo,
        Mr Adamu had another meeting with the undercover
        journalists. The conversation lasted about 30 minutes

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.              Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   18
II. A “Virtual” Corruption Case

 On 1 October 2010, the FIFA Secretary General warned all FIFA
  ExCo members (by email and DHL) of the fact that a company
  operating under the name Franklin Jones had recently approached
  various ExCo members offering support for football development
  programs in case the US won the bid

 Mr Adamu claimed that he had not read such communication from
  FIFA until the late morning of 14 October 2010, as he had been
  visiting his farm in a remote place of Nigeria, where he allegedly
  had no access to his emails and could not be reached by phone or
  in any other manner

 On 14 October 2010, the Sunday Times informed by email Mr
  Adamu that an article was about to be published reporting his
  meetings and his acceptance to sell his vote in favour of the US bid,
  making clear that the meetings had been filmed and recorded

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.              Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   19
II. A “Virtual” Corruption Case

                      Legal Issues of the Adamu/Diakite/Fusimalohi cases:
                        –     FIFA violation of due process and power of review of CAS
                        –     Admissibility of the evidence:
                              •     Legal nature of disciplinary proceedings (criminal or civil?)
                              •     Illegality of the recordings?
                              •     Applicability of the FIFA rules on evidence
                              •     Protection of Mr Adamu’s personality rights
                              •     The balance between Mr Adamu’s and other private or
                                    public interest; art. 28 Swiss CC:
                        «1. Any person whose personality rights are unlawfully infringed may apply to the
                             court for protection against all those causing the infringement.
                        2. An infringement is unlawful unless it is justified by the consent of the person
                             whose rights are infringed or by an overriding private or public interest or by
                             law.»

                        –     Merits

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.                 Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol    20
III. The FC Sion Case

 CAS 2009/A/1880-1881 FC Sion & El Hadary v. FIFA & Al-Ahly
         Partial Award on Lis Pendens and Jurisdiction
         Final Award
    2011/O/2574 UEFA v. Olympique des Alpes/FC Sion

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   21
III. The FC Sion Case

 “FC Sion” is an amateur club playing in the Swiss sixth league and,
  at the same time, is the name regularly used by a professional club
  competing in the Swiss Super League and constituted as a “société
  anonyme” with the corporate name “Olympique des Alpes SA”
 At the beginning of the 2005-2006 season, further to a rule obliging
  all top Swiss clubs to be organized as limited companies, Olympique
  des Alpes SA became a member of League and of the Swiss FA and
  took the place and the name of the historical club FC Sion
  Association, taking over the whole professional sector and the
  position in the Super League held hitherto by the latter
 In the common use by the SFA, the SFL, the media, the fans and the
  public, the professional club keeps being referred to simply as FC
  Sion. Even Olympique des Alpes SA regularly tags itself as FC Sion in
  its own documents, such as in its letterhead, in the letters of its
  executives to third parties, in its internet site, and the like
Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   22
III. The FC Sion Case

CAS 2009/A/1880-1881 FC Sion & El-Hadary v. FIFA & Al-Ahly
 On 1 January 2007, El-Hadary and Al-Ahly signed a contract lasting
  until the end of the 2009-2010 football season
 On 14 February 2008, a meeting took place in Cairo between El-
  Hadary, Al-Ahly and FC Sion, negotiating a possible transfer
 On 15 February 2008, the President of FC Sion informed Al-Ahly that
  FC Sion had reached an agreement with El-Hadary and proposed to
  meet in Geneva to “find a friendly settlement between our clubs”
 On the same day, El-Hadary and FC Sion signed an employment
  contract until the 2010-2011 season and filed with the Swiss FA a
  request to register El-hadary as a professional player with FC Sion
 The Swiss FA requested the Egyptian FA to issue the International
  Transfer Certificate (ITC) for the Player in favour of FC Sion

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   23
III. The FC Sion Case

 On 27 February 2008, FC Sion sent an urgent letter to FIFA invoking
  the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players and
  requesting FIFA to issue the ITC to allow El-Hadary to be registered
  as a player of FC Sion; El-Hadary himself signed the letter at the
  bottom, explicitly agreeing to its contents and sharing the request
  submitted to FIFA
 On 11 April 2008, the Single Judge of the FIFA Players’ Status
  Committee granted a provisional ITC
 The Single Judge emphasised that the “decision is without prejudice
  and pending the outcome of a contractual labour dispute […] the
  Chamber would have to express itself on the questions if a breach of
  contract was committed by one or both of the parties, whether with
  or without just cause as well as on the possible consequences
  thereof, i.e. financial compensation and/or sporting sanctions”

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   24
III. The FC Sion Case

 On 12 June 2008, Al-Ahly wrote to FIFA lodging a claim against El-
  Hadary and “the Swiss club FC Sion” for, respectively, breach of
  contract and inducement to breach of contract, requesting FIFA to
  impose sanctions on them and to grant a pecuniary compensation in
  favour of Al-Ahly
 On 23 June 2008, the attorney already empowered by FC Sion wrote
  to FIFA stating that “FC Sion” had forwarded him Al-Ahly’s claim and
  had asked him to defend the club on the basis of the power of
  attorney already on file with FIFA
 On 15 July 2008, FC Sion argued on a preliminary basis that Al-Ahly
  had made a mistake in designating “FC Sion” as a defendant in the
  FIFA procedure because “FC Sion” was an amateur club and,
  therefore, the claim had to be rejected for “défaut de légitimation
  passive”, i.e. for lack of “standing to be sued”

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   25
III. The FC Sion Case

 On 16 April 2009, the DRC of FIFA decided to accept Al-Ahly’s claim
  and ordered El-Hadary to pay EUR 900,000 to Al-Ahly, with FC Sion
  jointly and severally liable for the payment of such compensation
 Also, the DRC sanctioned: (1) El Hadary with four months of
  ineligibility to play in official matches and (2) FC Sion with a ban
  from registering any new players, either nationally of internationally,
  for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods
 On 18 June 2009, both El-Hadary and “FC Sion Association” filed an
  Appeal with the CAS. El-Hadary also requested an interim stay of the
  DRC Decision and contested the jurisdiction of the CAS
 On 29 June 2009, El-Hadary filed a civil law suit with the District
  Court of Zurich requesting the annulment of the DRC Decicion on the
  basis of Article 75 Swiss CC
 On 13 November 2009, UEFA intervened at the CAS as amicus curiae
Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   26
III. The FC Sion Case

    Legal Issues:
     El-Hadary
               Lis Pendens
               Jurisdiction
               Violation by FIFA of due process rights and de novo ruling
               Art. 17 FIFA Transfer Regulations
     FC Sion
               Violation by FIFA of due process rights and de novo ruling
               FC Sion Association’s standing to appeal
               Art. 17 FIFA Transfer Regulations

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   27
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

  CAS 2013/A/3067 Málaga CF SAD v. UEFA

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   28
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

  In accordance with Articles 65-66 UEFA Club Licensing and
   Financial Fair Play Regulations, Málaga submitted to the RFEF
   (which forwarded it to UEFA) its financial declaration stating that
   as of 30 June 2012 it had overdue payables of EUR 3,845,000
   towards other football clubs and of EUR 5,575,000 towards social
   and/or tax authorities
  On 3 August 2012, the UEFA Investigatory Chamber found that
   Málaga was in breach of the rules and requested an independent
   audit, which confirmed the existence of overdue payables on 30
   June 2012 as communicated by Málaga and indicating that an
   additional amount of EUR 4,599,000, which had been considered
   by Málaga as deferred by the tax authorities, had actually to be
   considered as an overdue payable due to the lack of a written
   agreement signed by the tax authorities to extend the deadline for
   payment
Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   29
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

  On 15 October 2012, UEFA received the new Málaga statement on
   the financial situation as of 30 September 2012. In this statement,
   Málaga maintained that there were no overdue payables towards
   other clubs, employees and/or social/tax authorities, and further
   disclosed the existence of debts towards tax authorities for an
   overall amount of EUR 15,476,000, which, however, according to
   Málaga, had to be considered as deferred
  On the same date, the UEFA received a communication dated 2
   October 2012 by the Spanish tax authorities informing UEFA of the
   issuance of a seizure order for EUR 23,332,000 on any credits of
   the Club held by the UEFA. The tax authorities further informed the
   UEFA that no “installment agreements” had been approved and
   that, up to this date, “revenues made were exclusively a result of
   enforcement actions by the Spanish Tax Agency”

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   30
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

  On 9 November 2012, the Spanish tax authorities sent a letter to
   the UEFA, communicating, inter alia: “PRE-AGREEMENT OF
   PAYMENT RESCHEDULING OF MALAGA CLUB DE FUTBOL SAD
   DEBTS.– In relation to the enforced collection administrative
   procedure of payment against MALAGA CF (…), we inform you that,
   once MALAGA CF has made the payment of 9.000.000 € that this
   entity has to make to the Spanish Tax Agency (…), we will proceed
   to sign an agreement in order to split/postpone the outstanding
   payment in the next days. The date of payment for the outstanding
   amount will be within January of 2013 (also for new amounts
   accrued from today´s date)”

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   31
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

 On 26 November 2012, the Spanish tax authorities sent to UEFA a
  further letter which stated inter alia: on 30 September 2012, the
  decision on Málaga‘s application for postponement of payment for
  the amount of EUR 8,450,406.16 was pending and, accordingly, the
  enforcement of the tax debt was deferred until 2 October 2012; the
  “conditional agreement” for the postponement of the payment
  remained in force but as a condition Málaga had to pay EUR
  10,100,000; (iv) the measures adopted by the tax authorities on 15
  October 2012 (i.e. the seizure order) with regard to the amounts
  which UEFA owed to the Club were “”ordinary measures”, “”in the
  sense that they [weren’t] different than those adopted against other
  parties that may still owe amounts to Malaga”.

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   32
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

 On 21 December 2012, the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber decided:
      1. To impose a fine of € 300,000 on Malaga CF
      2. To exclude Malaga CF from participating in the next UEFA club
         competition for which it would otherwise qualify on its results or
         standing in the next four seasons
      3. Subject to the condition set out at paragraph 4, to impose on
         Malaga CF a further exclusion from the next UEFA club
         competition for which it would otherwise qualify on its results or
         standing in the next four seasons
      4. If Malaga is able to prove by 31 March 2013 that it is in
         compliance with Articles 65-66 so that as at that date it has no
         overdue payables, then the exclusion referred to at paragraph 3
         shall not take effect

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   33
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

   On 3 January 2013 the Spanish tax authorities issued to Málaga a
    document which stated that – in view of the payments
    effectuated by Málaga – the request for deferral of outstanding
    amounts had been granted. Consequently, the Club had to pay
    the remaining amounts in two installments, i.e. EUR
    1,362,568.52 by 20 January 2013, and EUR 3,869,185.06 by 5
    February 2013
   By 5 February 2013, Málaga had paid the outstanding amounts
    provided for in the deferral plan agreed with Spanish tax
    authorities
   On 24 January 2013, Málaga filed a Statement of Appeal against
    the UEFA Decision with the CAS

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   34
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

   Before the CAS both parties agreed that:
   As of 30 September 2012:
        •     Málaga owed EUR 15,400,000 towards tax authorities. There
              was a debt referral agreement in the amount of EUR
              8,400,000. For the remainder (EUR 7,000,000), the Appellant
              requested a unilateral postponement within the “voluntary
              term of payment”;
        •     as for the debt of EUR 2,700,000 towards clubs and of EUR
              5,800,000 towards players/employees, there was a valid debt
              deferral agreement with the relevant creditors
   As of 31 March 2013:
                   2013
        •     Málaga was in compliance with Articles 65-66

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   35
IV. License case: Málaga CF v. UEFA

                                       Legal Issues before the CAS
                                        Concept of “overdue payables”:
                                         national law or UEF rules?
                                        As of 30 September 2012, was there a
                                         “written agreement” with the tax
                                         authorities?
                                        Proportionality of the sanction

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.             Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   36
Thank you!
                                   Massimo Coccia
                                   Professor of International Law
                                    Partner at
                                    Coccia De Angelis Pardo & Associati
                                    Studio Legale e Tributario
                                    E-mail: m.coccia@cdaa.it

Prof. Avv. Massimo Coccia, LL.M.     Madrid, 29 de marzo de 2014 – Laudos TAS sobre Fútbol   37
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