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Napredak Football Club v. Damir Sadiković & FK Sloga Doboj

CAS 2025/A/11891 Napredak Football Club v. Damir Sadiković & FK Sloga Doboj

CONSENT AWARD delivered by the

COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT sitting in the following composition:

Sole Arbitrator: Mr Patrick Grandjean, Attorney-at-law, Belmont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland

in the arbitration between

Napredak Football Club, Kruševac, Serbia

Represented by Mr Nenad Curkovic, Attorney-at-law in Belgrade, Serbia Appellant

and

Damir Sadiković, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Represented by Mr Fedja Dupovac in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina First Respondent

FK Sloga Doboj, Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina Second Respondent

I. PARTIES

1. Napredak Football Club is a football club with its registered office in Kruševac, Serbia (the “Club”). It is a member of the Football Association of Serbia (“FSS” or “FAS”), itself affiliated with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (“FIFA”).

2. Mr Damir Sadiković is a professional football player of Bosnian and Herzegovinian nationality (the “Player”).

3. FK Sloga Doboj is a football club with its registered office in Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a member of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Football Association (“FFBH”), itself affiliated with the FIFA.

4. The Player and FK Sloga Doboj are jointly referred to as the “Respondents”.

5. The Club and the Respondents are jointly referred to as the “Parties”.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. The employment relationship between the Player and the Club

6. On 15 September 2023, the Club and the Player signed an employment contract valid from the date of signature until 31 May 2025 (the “Employment Contract”). According to this contract, the Player was entitled to the following amounts:

  • a monthly salary of EUR 400;

  • for the 2023/2024 season, an amount of EUR 46,000 payable in 10 monthly instalments of EUR 4,600 due “no later than the last day of the month for the previous month”;

  • for the 2024/2025 season, an amount of EUR 50,600 payable in 11 monthly instalments of EUR 4,600 due “no later than the last day of the month for the previous month”;

  • a sign-on fee of EUR 10,000 to be paid on 26 September 2023;

  • a sign-on fee of EUR 11,000 to be paid on 20 July 2024.

7. At some undetermined point in time, the Player received the following message from a representative of the Club:

“ I am informing you that the head of the expert staff, Goran Stevanovic, has decided that you are not on the passenger list for the second part of the preparations in Slovenia, from June 27, 2024 to July 8, 2024. You yourself had an insight into the list published in the viber group of all the players. Accordingly, the club will enable you to hold training sessions in Krusevac according to the plan and program with the presence of trainers with a pro license, doctors, physiotherapists and economists.

For 28.06.2024. your training is scheduled to start at 10 am. You will be informed in a timely manner about each training session”.

8. On 28 June 2024, the Player sent the Club a notice complaining that he had been informed via email that he would not be joining the Club’s first team for preparations but would instead be required to train alone in inadequate conditions. The Player argued that this treatment was discriminatory compared to the rest of the team and requested to be immediately reintegrated into the first team’s training process on the same terms as the other players.

9. On 1 July 2024, the Club replied to the Player’s letter, stating that he had not trained with the team on 24 and 25 June 2024 due to an injury in the Achilles tendon. The Club denied the claims that the Player was forced to train alone and maintained that he was given appropriate professional training conditions and treated with respect as an experienced professional player. The Club also emphasized that it wanted the Player to recover quickly and rejoin its first team.

10. On 5 July 2024, the Player sent the Club another notice requesting to be reinstated into the Club’s first team. The Player reiterated his concerns regarding the discriminatory treatment he had been subjected to and formally requested that the Club immediately allow him to train with the first team under the same conditions as the other players. In the same notice, the Player also reminded the Club that it had not fulfilled all of its financial obligations towards him, namely the payment of half of the monthly salary for March 2024 and the full salary for June 2024. The Player therefore invited the Club to settle these outstanding amounts within 15 days and reserved his right “to approach the FIFA tribunal with a request”.

11. On 19 July 2024, the Player sent the following notice to the Club:

“ We notice that the earlier letters send to you on the 28th June 2024 and 5th July 2024 remained without effect and that the player is still forced to train alone. Also, we noticed yesterday through media channels the statement of your general secretary, Ms. Valentina Vasić, who stated the following; ‘ Certainly, we are still proud that we are a real Serbian team, a team without foreigners, and that befits Kruševac, the old Serbian capital.’ Please explain to us if this is the club's official position? Is Damir Sadiković, as a player who is a foreigner in your club, no longer a Napredak player? Is this discrimination against him and other foreign footballers based on nationality? Also, we remind you that the club still has outstanding financial obligations to the player and part of the monthly salary for the months of March and June 2024. We invite you to provide us with an answer as soon as possible”.

12. On 29 July 2024, the Player sent the Club a further notice, as he continued to be excluded from the first team’s training sessions. He also complained about the Club’s failure to pay part of his March 2024 salary, his June 2024 salary, and the EUR 11,000 signing fee due for the 2024/25 season. The Player requested his immediate reintegration into the

first team training process and demanded payment of the outstanding amounts within 10 days, failing which he reserved the right to bring the matter before the competent FIFA Tribunal.

13. On 7 August 2024 and in the absence of any response from the Club, the Player proceeded to terminate the Employment Contract with immediate effect in the following terms:

“To date, the following amounts consequently remain outstanding:

  • part of March 2024 salary

  • part of June 2024 salary

  • July 2024 salary

  • signing fee for the season 2024/25 in the amount of 11,000.00 EUR Next to the outstanding salaries, the player was forced to train alone for more than a month period, without participating in first teams training camp/ preparations for the new season. The club also publicly made worrisome statements which made him unsecure. Hence, Mr Sadiković’s trust in your club’s intention to maintain and honour the contractual relationship is lost. In light of these contractual breaches, we hereby inform you of the unilateral termination of the employment contract with just cause, effective immediately.”

14. On 9 August 2024, the Player signed an employment contract with FK Sloga Doboj, valid as from the date of signature until 31 May 2025, for a total remuneration of BAM 13,095.69.

15. On 14 August 2024, the Club informed the Player that it disagreed with his allegation that the salary for March 2024 remained unpaid, explaining that it had been fully settled through payments made on 15 April, 26 April, and 28 June 2024, while the June 2024 salary was fully paid on 18 and 29 July 2024. Accordingly, the Club maintained that the requirements for termination of the Employment Contract with just cause under Articles 14 and 14bis of the applicable FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (“RSTP”) were not fulfilled, given that less than two monthly salaries were outstanding and the July salary had not yet fallen due. The Club further warned the Player that, should he unilaterally terminate the Employment Contract, it would initiate legal proceedings for breach of his contractual obligations.

16. On 30 January 2025, the Player signed an employment contract with the Bosnian and Herzegovinian club FK Igman Konjic valid as from the date of signature until 30 June 2025.

B. The proceedings before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber

17. On 26 August 2024, the Player filed a claim against the Club before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) filing the following request for relief:

“ As a consequence of all of the above, the Player is requesting the FIFA DRC to determine that he terminated the employment relationship with the Club with just cause on 7th August 2024 - and to order the Club to pay the Player the following amounts:

  • Overdue payables, plus 5% interest p.a. as from the relevant payment dates until the date of effective payment, specified as follows:

  • EUR 6.900,00 (including outstanding salaries for the months of June 2024, July 2024);

  • 11.000,00 EUR outstanding amount of signing fee;

  • EUR 46.000,00 as the amount due as compensation for breach of contract + 5% interest as from 7th August 2024 until the date of effective payment”.

18. On 16 October 2024, the Club filed a counter-claim before the DRC.

19. In a decision dated 3 July 2025, the DRC ruled as follows:

“[…]

1. The [DRC] has jurisdiction to hear the claim of the [Player].

2. The claim of the [Player] is partially accepted.

3. The [Club] must pay to the [Player] the following amount(s): - EUR 39,304.28 as compensation for breach of contract plus 5% interest p.a. as from 7 August 2024 until the date of effective payment.

4. Any further claims of the [Player] are rejected.

5. The counterclaim of the [Club] is rejected. 6. […]

7. Pursuant to art. 24 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, if full payment (including all applicable interest) is not made within 45 days of notification of this decision, the following consequences shall apply:

1. The [Club] shall be banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, up until the due amount is paid. The maximum duration of the ban shall be of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods.

2. The present matter shall be submitted, upon request, to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in the event that full payment (including all applicable interest) is still not made by the end of the three entire and consecutive registration periods.

8. The consequences shall only be enforced at the request of the [Player] in accordance with art. 24 par. 7 and 8 and art. 25 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

9. This decision is rendered without costs.”

20. On 9 October 2025, the Parties were notified of the decision issued by the DRC (the “Appealed Decision”).

III. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT

21. On 29 October 2025, the Club lodged its Statement of Appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) against the Appealed Decision in accordance with Article R47 et seq. of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration (the “Code”). The appeal was initially brought against the Respondents and FIFA. However, the latter was subsequently withdrawn from the proceedings with the Club’s express agreement.

22. On 31 October 2025, the CAS Court Office acknowledged receipt of the Club’s Statement of Appeal and of its payment of the CAS Court Office fee. The CAS Court Office inter alia granted the Respondents until 6 November 2025 to comment on the Club’s request to refer the present matter to a sole arbitrator.

23. On 3 November 2025, the Player confirmed to the CAS Court Office that he agreed to submit the present matter to a sole arbitrator, while FK Sloga Doboj failed to provide its position within the prescribed deadline.

24. On 18 November 2025, the CAS Court Office informed the Parties that the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division had decided to submit the present matter to as sole arbitrator.

25. On 24 November 2025, the Club filed its Appeal Brief within the prescribed time limit, previously extended, in accordance with Article R51 of the Code.

26. On 30 December 2025, the CAS Court Office informed the Parties that the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division had appointed Mr Patrick Grandjean, Attorney- at-law, Belmont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland as Sole Arbitrator. It further noted that, as of that date, no Answer or other communication had been received from FK Sloga Doboj.

27. On 5 February 2026, the CAS Court Office acknowledged receipt of the Player’s Answer filed on 26 January 2026, within the prescribed time limit, previously extended and suspended. It invited the Parties to state by 12 February 2026 whether they preferred a hearing to be held in this matter and whether they requested a case management conference.

28. On 12 February 2026, the Club informed the CAS Court Office that it requested a hearing in the present matter but did not consider a case management conference necessary.

29. On 12 February 2026, the Player informed the CAS Court Office that he requested a hearing in the present matter.

30. While the Player and the Club returned duly signed copies of the Order of Procedure on 15 and 16 March 2026, respectively, FK Sloga Doboj did not comply within the prescribed deadline.

31. The hearing was held on 17 March 2026 via videoconference.

32. In addition to the Sole Arbitrator and Mrs Pauline Pellaux, Counsel to the CAS, the following persons attended the hearing:

For the Club:

1) Mr Nenad Curkovic, legal counsel:

2) Mrs Tina Samardzic, Interpreter

For the Player, who was present:

3) Mr Fedja Dupovac, legal counsel;

4) Mrs Renata Merzić, interpreter.

FK Sloga Doboj was not represented.

33. During the hearing, the Sole Arbitrator gave the Club and the Player the opportunity to explore the possibility of settling their dispute amicably. Following negotiations, the Club and the Player confirmed that they had reached an agreement. They undertook to submit a corresponding settlement agreement to the Sole Arbitrator for his endorsement.

34. On 25 March 2026, the Player filed to the CAS Court Office a copy of the settlement agreement, duly signed by him and by the Club (the “Settlement Agreement”).

35. On 26 March 2026, the CAS Court Office acknowledged receipt of the Settlement Agreement and forwarded a copy to the Parties involved. It also informed the Parties that “unless an objection by 1 April 2026, it will be considered that all Parties agree with the issuance of a Consent Award embodying the Settlement Agreement of 23 March 2026”.

36. No objection was raised by any of the Parties within the prescribed deadline.

IV. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

37. It is undisputed that the Settlement Agreement represents the Parties’ agreement regarding a complete, comprehensive and final resolution of their dispute related to the termination of the Employment Contract.

38. The Sole Arbitrator has been requested to ratify and embody the Settlement Agreement in a consent award.

39. The Settlement Agreement concluded between the Parties reads as follows:

“ THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made on 23rd March by and between

FOOTBALL CLUB NAPREDAK Kruševac, Stanka Gavrilovića 66, Kruševac, Serbia, represented by Valentina Vasic, general secretary of the Club (Hereinafter the “Club” or “the Appellant”) - on one hand - and MR. DAMIR SADIKOVIC, professional football player, born on 07.04.1995, Bosnian nationality, represented by Mr. Feda Dupovac Attorney at law, with registered address at Branilaca Sarajevo 3/V, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Hereinafter the “Player” or the “Respondent”) - on the other hand - (The Club and the Player individually are referred to as “Party” and, collectively, “Parties”) RECITALS WHEREAS, the Club received the notification of the Decision passed by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber of the Football Tribunal (ref. FPSD-15911) (hereinafter the “Appealed Decision”), dated 3rd July 2025, with the following findings: “1. The Football Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear the claim of the Claimant / Counter- Respondent, Damir Sadikovic.

2. The claim of the Claimant / Counter-Respondent, Damir Sadikovic, is partially accepted.

3. The Respondent / Counterclaimant, Napredak, must pay to the Claimant / Counter- Respondent the following amount(s): - EUR 39,304.28 as compensation for breach of contract plus 5% interest p.a. as from 7 August 2024 until the date of effective payment.

4. Any further claims of the Claimant are rejected.

5. The counterclaim of the Respondent / Counterclaimant, Napredak, is rejected.” WHEREAS, the Appellant filed a Statement of Appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne (case no. CAS 2025/A/l 1891) against the Player (the “Dispute”) requesting the:

  • annulment in full of the appealed Decision, and the condemn of the Respondent - jointly and severally liable with the club Football Club Sloga (hereinafter the “Second Respondent”) to pay in favour of the Club a compensation, for the early termination of the Employment Contract without just cause, calculated as follows:

  • To uphold this appeal of FC Napredak.

  • To annul and set aside decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber of Football Tribunal of 03 July 2025, case ref.no. FPSD – 15911.

  • To issue a new decision replacing Decision FPSD - 15911 rejecting the claim of the Player Damir Sadiković and to decide that the Dispute Resolution

Chamber of Football Tribunal has no jurisdiction to adjudicate on the claim brought by Damir Sadiković against FC Napredak.

  • In the alternative, to issue a new decision replacing Decision FPSD -15911 dismissing the claim of the Player Damir Sadiković on the merits, as he terminated the contract with FC Napredak without just cause, and ordering: In even further alternative, to issue a new decision replacing point 3 of the Decision FPSD - 15911 and ordering FC Napredak to pay the player Damir

  • the Player Damir Sadiković to pay FC Napredak amount of 99.845,16 EUR as compensation for breach of contract plus 5% interest p.a. as from 08 August 2024 until the date of effective payment.

  • FC Sloga to be jointly and severally liable with Damir Sadiković for payment to FC Napredak of 99.845,16 EUR as compensation for breach of contract plus 5% interest p.a. as from 08 August 2024 until the date of effective payment.

  • The player Damir Sadiković to be restricted on playing in official matches for 6 (six) months.

  • Football Club Sloga to be banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for two entire and consecutive registration periods.

  • In even further alternative, to issue a new decision replacing point 3 of the Decision FPSD – 15911 and ordering FC Napredak to pay the player Damir Sadiković compensation for breach of contract in the amount to be nominally determined by the CAS Sole Arbitrator but corresponding to the difference between residual value of the contract with FC Napredak (46.000,00 EUR) and summed value of the player Damir Sadiković’s contracts with FC Sloga and FC Igman Konjice for the so called overlapping period (from 08 August 2024 to 31 May 2025), subject to further taking of evidence, with a maximum limit of EUR 39,304.28.

  • To order the Player Damir Sadiković and FC Sloga to incur all costs related to this arbitration proceedings.

  • To order the Player Damir Sadiković and FC Sloga to compensate FK Napredak’s legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with this arbitration proceedings in the amount of 8.000,00 CHF, subject to potential further increasement which shall be notified at the hearing at the latest.” WHEREAS, the Player filed his Answers, requesting to reject the Appeal of the Appellant and that Appealed Decision is confirmed; WHEREAS, the Parties, in order to avoid incurring in further costs and expenses, are willing and prepared to amicably settle the Dispute in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

Insofar, the Parties agree and undertake to resolve the arbitration proceedings no. CAS 2025/A/l1891 by means of the arbitral award which will incorporate this Settlement agreement and its terms. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants, undertakings and arrangements set forth in this Agreement and for the mutual benefits to be derived herefrom and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

  • Both Parties agree that the Appellant will pay to the Player the sum of EUR 15.000,00 (fifteen thousand and 00/100 EURO) (the “Settlement Amount”) in two (2) instalments as follows:

  • EUR 10.000,00 (ten thousand and 00/100 EURO) to be paid no later than 31th March 2026;

  • EUR 5.000,00 (five thousand and 00/100 EURO) to be paid no later than

  • Payments of the Settlement Amount shall be made by wire transfer to the following banking account: Account name: DAMIR SADIKOVIC Account currency: EUR IBAN number: EUR BA393387502811472917 Swift code: UNCRBA22 Bank name: Unicredit banka d.d. Beneficiary address: Hadželi 153 Hadžići, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • It is agreed and understood that on the date of each deadline, the Club (directly or through its representatives) provides the Player (directly or through his representative) with relevant bank payment confirmation or copy of swift transfer.

  • If the Club fails to pay the full outstanding amount within an additional 5 (five) business days after due date, the Player shall be entitled to enforce this Agreement before FIFA disciplinary bodies.

  • The Parties further agree that: (a) the procedural costs of CAS for the Dispute shall be borne in full by the Appellant and, therefore, after calculation of the costs, soley (sic) and exclusively the Appellant will receive the refund (if any) of the advanced costs already paid to CAS, and (b) each Party shall bear his own costs, expenses and legal fees related to the entire Dispute and to this Agreement.

  • The Parties agree that the punctual, timely and wholly payment of the Settlement Amount according to article 1 is and will be made in full and final satisfaction of any claim deriving from, connected with, or related to the Appealed Decision and the Dispute. In particular, with the punctual and wholly payment of the Settlement Amount the Player waives to any other

amount indicated in the Appealed Decision and the Club waives to any counterclaim in that regard.

  • It is further understood and agreed that this Agreement shall be final and binding upon the Parties, their successors and assigns of whatever nature and description, and that no claim, be it derivative or otherwise, may ever be made against the Parties released with respect to the matters covered by this Agreement.

  • This Agreement may not be waived, changed, amended, restated or discharged orally, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the Parties. It remains understood between parties that any modification of the bank coordinates of the Player will be communicated in writing. The Parties agree that any communication between them will be made via email at the following address:

  • the player (fedia@dupovac.ba)

  • the Club (valentina.vasic@fknapredak.rs).

  • This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Parties hereto regarding the subject matter hereof and the terms of this Agreement are contractual and not a mere recital, and are to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Switzerland.

  • Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the interpretation and/or validity of this Agreement may be submitted to the FIFA and, in appeal, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Notwithstanding the above, the Parties expressly agree that any obligation of payment under this Agreement shall constitute a financial obligation within the meaning of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. In case of non- compliance with the payment obligations set forth herein, the Player shall be entitled to request the intervention of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for enforcement purposes, including the imposition of disciplinary measures, irrespective of any jurisdiction of CAS or any other arbitral body. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as excluding or limiting the jurisdiction of FIFA bodies, in particular the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with regard to the enforcement of financial obligations arising from this Agreement, THE UNDERSIGNED HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT, understand the contents thereof, and all sign the same as a result of their own free and voluntary acts.”

40. The above Settlement Agreement bears the signature of a Club’s representative and of the Player.

41. Further to the letter of the CAS Court Office of 26 March 2026, and in the absence of any response on its part, FK Sloga Doboj shall be deemed to have validly approved the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

V. JURISDICTION

42. Article R47 of the Code provides as follows:

“An appeal against the decision of a federation, association or sports- related body may be filed with CAS if the statutes or regulations of the said body so provide or if the parties have concluded a specific arbitration agreement and if the appellant has exhausted the legal remedies available to it prior to the appeal, in accordance with the statutes or regulations of that body.”

43. The Appellant relied on Article 50 of the FIFA Statutes as conferring jurisdiction to the CAS and paragraph 1 of this provision reads as follows:

“Appeals againstfinal decisions passed by FIFA and its bodies shall be lodged with CAS within 21 days of receipt of the decision in question”.

44. The Settlement Agreement further expressly provides that “the Parties agree and undertake to resolve the arbitration proceedings no. CAS 2025/A/l1891 by means of the arbitral award which will incorporate this Settlement agreement and its terms”.

45. As a result, CAS has jurisdiction to issue the present consent award.

VI. RATIFICATION AND INCORPORATION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BY CAS

46. In accordance with Article R56 of the Code:

“ (...) Any settlement may be embodied in an arbitral award rendered by consent of the parties.”

47. Under Swiss Law, an arbitration tribunal sitting in Switzerland has authority to issue an award embodying the terms of the Parties’ settlement, if the contesting Parties agree to a termination of their dispute in this manner. The Sole Arbitrator’s ratification of their settlement and its incorporation into this consent award serves the purpose of vesting the settlement with a res judicata effect and of enabling the enforcement of their agreement.

48. It is the task of the Sole Arbitrator to verify the bona fide nature of the Settlement Agreement to ensure that the will of the Parties has not been manipulated by them to commit fraud and to confirm that the terms of the agreement are not contrary to public policy principles or mandatory rules of the law applicable to the dispute.

49. After reviewing the terms of the Settlement Agreement and the evidence in the file, the Sole Arbitrator finds no grounds to object or disapprove the terms of the Settlement Agreement and is satisfied that the Settlement Agreement constitutes a bona fide settlement of the dispute brought to his attention.

50. This consent award terminates the CAS arbitration with the reference CAS 2025/A/11891 Napredak Football Club v. Damir Sadiković & FK Sloga Doboj.

VII. COSTS

(…)

ON THESE GROUNDS

The Court of Arbitration for Sport rules:

1. The Settlement Agreement submitted to the CAS Court Office by the Parties on 25 March 2026 is hereby ratified by the CAS with the consent of the Parties and its terms are incorporated into this Arbitral Award.

2. The arbitral procedure CAS 2025/A/11891 Napredak Football Club v. Damir Sadiković & FK Sloga Doboj is hereby terminated.

3. (…).

4. (…).

Seat of arbitration: Lausanne, Switzerland Date: 6 May 2026

THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT

Patrick Grandjean Sole Arbitrator

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