The case involves a dispute between Al-Gharafa S.C., a Qatari football club, and F.C. Steaua Bucuresti, a Romanian football club, concerning unpaid transfer fees for a player. The dispute was brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with FIFA as the second respondent. The parties had agreed on a transfer fee of €2,300,000, payable in two installments, but Al-Gharafa failed to pay the first installment of €1,200,000. Steaua Bucuresti sought FIFA’s intervention, leading to a decision by the FIFA Players’ Status Committee (PSC) ordering Al-Gharafa to pay the overdue amount. Al-Gharafa appealed this decision to CAS, arguing it had not received proper default notices and that Steaua Bucuresti failed to comply with contractual obligations, such as sending invoices to the correct address. The case centered on the principle of exceptio non adimpleti contractus under Swiss law, which allows a party to withhold performance if the other party has not fulfilled its obligations. However, the sole arbitrator ruled that issuing an invoice was a secondary obligation and did not justify Al-Gharafa’s non-payment. The arbitrator also addressed procedural matters, including the admissibility of new evidence and FIFA’s authority to impose sporting sanctions under Article 12bis of its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). The arbitrator upheld the FIFA PSC’s decision, confirming Al-Gharafa’s obligation to pay the overdue amount and a fine of CHF 30,000. The ruling emphasized the importance of contractual compliance in international football transfers and FIFA’s role in enforcing financial obligations. Al-Gharafa’s claims of procedural unfairness and disproportionate fines were dismissed, as the arbitrator found no violation of due process or equal treatment. The decision reaffirmed the validity of the sanctions imposed and the burden of proof in legal disputes. The case highlights the interplay between contractual law, procedural rules, and FIFA’s regulatory framework in resolving disputes between football clubs. The CAS ultimately dismissed the appeal and upheld the FIFA decision in its entirety.