The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a ruling on March 11, 2013, in a dispute between FK Baník Most and Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors concerning training compensation for a player who transitioned from Argentinos Juniors' youth academy to professional football in the Czech Republic. The case centered on whether FK Baník Most was obligated to pay training compensation to Argentinos Juniors under FIFA regulations. The player, who had been registered as an amateur with Argentinos Juniors from 2002 to 2006, later signed professional contracts in the Czech Republic, first with FK Litvinov and then with FK Baník Most. The sole arbitrator, Mark Hovell, addressed key legal principles, clarifying that any player with a written contract receiving more than expenses is considered professional under FIFA rules, regardless of local classifications. The arbitrator emphasized that training compensation is a solidarity mechanism designed to reward clubs for developing players, and it is triggered by the first registration of a professional contract, not merely its signing.
FK Baník Most argued that the player's first professional contract was with Litvinov, an amateur club, and thus no compensation was due. They also contested the compensation amount, claiming it was disproportionate to actual training costs and should be calculated per season rather than per year. However, the arbitrator found no evidence to support these claims, as FK Baník Most failed to provide receipts, financial records, or detailed testimony. The arbitrator upheld FIFA's indicative amount of €30,000 per year for training compensation, dismissing the appellant's arguments about lower costs. Additionally, the arbitrator rejected the distinction between signing and registration, stating both are necessary for a club to utilize a player's services and trigger compensation.
The decision reinforced FIFA's framework for training compensation, ensuring clubs benefiting from a player's development fairly compensate the training club. The appeal did not suspend the enforcement of the original FIFA DRC decision, which required FK Baník Most to pay €140,000 plus 5% annual interest within 30 days of the November 2011 ruling. The CAS dismissed FK Baník Most's appeal, affirming the FIFA DRC's decision and underscoring the importance of evidence in challenging regulatory calculations. The case highlights the complexities of player transfers, contractual obligations, and the jurisdictional processes in international football disputes, ultimately upholding the principles of fairness and solidarity in player development.