Determining the validity of the contract with a football club

It is not unusual for certain provisions in football contracts to turn out unclear and necessitate resolutions by either authorised bodies or courts of Polish Football Association (PZPN). Thanks to our law firm, the Chamber for Sports Disputes of PZPN confirmed that the contracts between football players and clubs, which determine the duration of the contract, depending on fulfilling a particular condition, are permissible. The condition in this case was spending a certain number of minutes on the pitch.

According to the statement of reasons for the recent ruling in our Client’s case ‘fulfilling the suspensory condition set in that manner results in its provisions coming into force automatically’. The Chamber also confirmed that the clause that renews the contract on the condition of spending the determined number of minutes on the pitch cannot be treated as the so-called option to unilaterally extend the contract by the club or a provision that requires further declarations by the club or the player. That manner of determining the term of the contract is not contrary to the provisions of the resolution III/54 of the Board of PZPN – Minimum Conditions of Standard Players’ Contracts in Professional Football Sector and cannot be regarded as void. The end date of the contract is sufficiently set by the condition. In case of the condition being fulfilled, the declaration by either a club or a player that they do not wish to extend the contract is ineffective as the extension of the term of the contract is automatic.

 

 

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