The case involves a dispute between French professional football player Christophe Grondin and Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly FC regarding the termination of their employment contract signed in 2012. The contract stipulated a two-year term with specific remuneration terms, including salary, allowances, and travel benefits. Issues arose when Grondin returned to France in June 2013 for a break and attempted to resume his obligations. Despite repeated attempts to contact the club about training schedules and visa renewal, the club failed to respond adequately. Grondin warned of legal action if his concerns were not addressed, while the club blamed him for his absence and insisted he arrange his own travel, promising reimbursement. Grondin argued that the club’s lack of communication and failure to provide necessary documents justified his absence.
The dispute centered on whether Grondin had "just cause" to terminate the contract under FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), which relies on Swiss law for interpretation. Swiss law permits termination of fixed-term contracts only for "valid reasons" or mutual agreement, with severe breaches justifying immediate termination. The tribunal found the club’s failure to communicate and support Grondin constituted a breach of good faith, undermining the employment relationship. The tribunal ruled in Grondin’s favor, recognizing the club’s failure to uphold its obligations as grounds for just cause termination.
Grondin filed a claim with FIFA seeking compensation, which was initially rejected by the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC). He then appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing the club breached the contract by not paying wages, renewing his visa, or booking his return flight. The club countered that Grondin failed to return before his visa expired and lacked professional commitment. The CAS hearing proceeded without the club’s attendance, and the Sole Arbitrator requested additional documentation from Grondin. The arbitrator found the club acted in bad faith by ignoring Grondin’s requests, justifying his termination.
The arbitrator ruled the termination occurred on July 23, 2013, when Grondin filed his claim with the DRC, not June 28, 2013, as initially concluded. The decision emphasized the club’s negligence and breach of trust, entitling Grondin to compensation for the remaining contract period. The compensation included unpaid wages and a contract advance, minus unemployment benefits received, totaling USD 259,827 with 5% annual interest from July 24, 2013. The CAS partially upheld Grondin’s appeal, overturning the DRC’s decision and ordering the club to pay the specified amount. The ruling reinforced principles of good faith in employment relationships and clarified the application of Swiss law in FIFA-related disputes, ensuring Grondin was compensated for the club’s contractual failures.