Salary claim assessment
We review the contract, the payment history and the applicable regulations — and give a clear view of the recoverable amount, the correct forum and the realistic timeline.
Salary & Bonus Recovery in Professional Sport
Licensed lawyers at AMBY Legal represent professional athletes, coaches and technical staff in claims for unpaid salaries, bonuses and contractual payments — before sports governing bodies, arbitration tribunals and national courts.
Our clients
Unpaid Salaries in Professional Sport
An athlete who is not being paid is in a difficult position. The club controls the employment relationship, the registration, and often the housing and other practical arrangements. Speaking up risks damaging the relationship further. Waiting costs money every month. And the procedural options — FIFA, the relevant federation, national courts — each have their own rules, timelines and limitations that must be navigated correctly from the start.
Unpaid salaries are one of the most common disputes in professional sport. They affect players at every level — from established internationals to young professionals on modest contracts. They arise in football, ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, handball and virtually every other professional sport. And they are resolvable — provided the claim is handled correctly, the right forum is chosen, and the procedural deadlines are not missed.
AMBY Legal represents athletes, coaches and technical staff in salary recovery claims. We choose the most effective forum, prepare the full submission, and stay engaged through to enforcement.
Types of Unpaid Payments We Recover
Monthly salary: The most common claim. A club that stops paying monthly salary, pays late, or pays less than the contractual amount is in breach. We recover the full outstanding amount — principal, interest and legal costs where recoverable.
Performance bonuses: Appearance bonuses, goal bonuses, win bonuses, promotion bonuses — these are contractual obligations, not discretionary payments. When a club refuses to pay a bonus that has been earned, we pursue recovery through the appropriate forum.
Signing-on fees: Many professional contracts include a signing-on fee payable at the start of the contract or on renewal. Non-payment is a breach. We recover outstanding signing-on fees as part of salary claims or as standalone disputes.
Image rights payments: Athletes often have a separate image rights agreement alongside their employment contract. Unpaid image rights fees are a distinct legal claim — the forum and procedure may differ from the salary claim, and the two need to be managed in coordination.
Termination payments: When a contract is terminated — whether by the club or by the player — there is typically an obligation to pay outstanding salary up to the date of termination and, in some cases, compensation for early termination. We recover these payments and pursue compensation where the termination was wrongful.
Relocation and housing allowances: Many professional contracts include allowances for accommodation, relocation costs or other benefits. Non-payment of these allowances forms part of the overall claim.
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Our Services
Formal demand
We prepare and send a formal demand for payment before filing — this sometimes produces voluntary payment and avoids formal proceedings entirely.
FIFA Football Tribunal claims
We prepare and file salary claims before FIFA's Football Tribunal, manage the full procedural timeline and represent clients through to the award.
IIHF and FIBA claims
We handle salary and payment claims under IIHF and FIBA regulations for ice hockey and basketball players.
Contract termination for non-payment
We advise on whether the threshold for just cause termination has been met, manage the termination process and pursue compensation through the appropriate forum.
National court proceedings
We represent athletes and coaches in salary claims before Belarusian courts where domestic jurisdiction applies.
CAS representation
We prepare and file CAS appeals in salary and payment disputes where federation decisions are challenged.
Enforcement
We pursue enforcement of awards through FIFA's mechanism, national courts and international recognition procedures until payment is received.
The FIFA Enforcement Mechanism
For football salary claims resolved through FIFA, the enforcement mechanism is a powerful tool. A club that fails to comply with a FIFA Football Tribunal award within the specified period faces sanctions — including a ban on registering new players, which directly affects the club’s ability to compete. We initiate enforcement proceedings immediately when a deadline for voluntary compliance is missed. We do not wait.
Terminating a Contract for Non-Payment
When a club persistently fails to pay salary, the player has the right to terminate the contract for just cause. This is not automatic — it must be handled correctly.
In football, the threshold is generally two or more months of unpaid salary. The player must notify the club formally before terminating. Termination with just cause entitles the player to compensation — calculated on the basis of the remaining contract value and other factors under established CAS jurisprudence. The calculation can be complex, and the outcome depends on how the termination is executed and documented.
Terminating too early — before the threshold is clearly met — or without proper notice can convert a strong claim into a liability. We advise on the timing and process before any step is taken.
In other sports, similar principles apply under different federation rules. The threshold and the compensation calculation differ, but the core principle — persistent non-payment gives the employee the right to terminate and claim compensation — is consistent across most professional sports frameworks.
Why Clients choose us
Full coverage across sports
We handle salary recovery claims in football, ice hockey, basketball and other professional sports — each under the applicable federation rules.
Enforcement-first mindset
We do not treat an award as the end of the matter. We stay engaged until payment is actually received.
Belarus expertise
We understand the specific position of Belarusian athletes and clubs — including the enforcement landscape and the interaction between federation proceedings and Belarusian court proceedings.
Remote handling
We manage the full proceedings remotely. Athletes do not need to travel to Belarus or to Lausanne to instruct us.
Speed
Salary claims have deadlines. We respond immediately and file without delay.
FAQ
How much unpaid salary does a player need before filing a claim?
There is no minimum threshold for filing a salary claim — any unpaid contractual amount is recoverable. However, in football the practical threshold for contract termination with just cause is generally two months of unpaid salary. For smaller amounts, a formal demand before filing sometimes produces faster results than formal proceedings.
How long does a FIFA salary claim take?
A standard FIFA Football Tribunal salary case typically takes between six months and one year from filing to decision. We manage the timeline throughout. Enforcement proceedings after the award add further time if the club does not comply voluntarily.
Can a coach or technical staff member bring a salary claim through FIFA?
Yes — FIFA’s Football Tribunal has jurisdiction over disputes between coaches and clubs of different nationalities, provided the coaching contract is recognised as an employment relationship. Disputes involving technical staff are assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on the contract structure and the applicable regulations.
What if the club is in financial difficulty or has been dissolved?
This is a more complex scenario. If the club is insolvent or in liquidation, the federation proceedings may still be available — but enforcement options change significantly. We assess the specific situation and advise on the available routes, including claims against the league, the national federation or related entities.
Can image rights payments be recovered through FIFA?
Not always — it depends on how the image rights arrangement is structured. If the image rights agreement is separate from the employment contract, FIFA may not have jurisdiction over it. The image rights claim may need to be pursued through a different forum — CAS, a national court, or arbitration under the image rights agreement itself. We assess the structure and advise on the correct approach.