FPSD-19273赫博特

passed on29 October 2025 regardingan employment-related dispute concerningthecoachSteve LeonJ Herbots BY: Javier VIJANDE PENAS (Argentina),ChairpersonJesús ARROYO (Spain), MemberOleg ZADUBROVSKIY (Russia), Member CLAIMANT/ COUNTER-RESPONDENT: Steve LeonJ Herbots, BelgiumRepresented byYoshit Jain RESPONDENT/COUNTER-CLAIMANT: United Sports Club, IndiaRepresented byYashovardhan Kochar I.Facts of the case 1.On1 August 2022, theBelgian coach,Steve J Leon Herbots(hereinafter:theCoach,theClaimantor theCounter-Respondent), and theIndianclub,United Sports Club(hereinafter:theClub,theRespondentor theCounter-Claimant)entered intoan employment contract(hereinafter:theFirstContract)valid as from 1 August 2022 until 30 July 2027. 2.In accordance with theFirstContract, theClubundertook to pay to theCoachas follows,quotedverbatim: “Payment Details of 2022-23 Football SeasonContract Amount: Rs. 100000.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH Only) Payment Details of 2023-24 Football SeasonContract Amount: Rs. 105000.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH FIVE THOUSAND Only) Payment Details of 2024-25 Football SeasonContract Amount: Rs. 110250.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH TEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY Only) Payment Details of 2025-26 Football SeasonContract Amount: Rs. 115762.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH FIFTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY TWO Only) Payment Details of 2026-27 Football SeasonContract Amount: Rs. 121551.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH TWENTY ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY ONE Only) During the Contract period the Second Party will be provided with a Rent freeaccommodationexcluding the electricity bills in monthly basis. No other expenses for theabove purpose will beborne by the First Party. The Second party will borne all the expenses for keeping his all legal documents ready andtheFirst Party will help / serve with documents as and when required. Any weekly off / monthly off or holidays of the Second Party must be approved by the FirstParty.” 3.On 1 August 2024, theClub and the Coach entered a second employment contract(hereinafter: theSecond Contract), valid from 1 August 2024 until 31 March 2029. 4.In accordance with theSecond Contract, theClubundertook to pay to theCoachas follows,quotedverbatim: “NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH AS FOLLOWS: That the second party shall be responsible for Coaching of the senior Football team, as HeadCoach for the first party for the season followed as per schedule / Rules ofAllIndia FootballFederation as well as Indian Football Association at a consideration amount as stated below: Payment Details up-to Apr’24 to Mar’25 Contract Amount Rs. 1,35,500.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED Only) Payment Details up-to Apr’25 to Mar’26 Contract Amount Rs. 1,35,500.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED Only) Payment Details up-to Apr’26 to Mar’27 Contract Amount: Rs. 1,37,000.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND Only) Payment Details up-to Apr’27 to Mar’28Contract Amount: Rs. 1,38,000.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND Only) Payment Details up-to Apr’28 to Mar’29Contract Amount: Rs. 1,40,000.00 Monthly(Rupees ONE LAKH FORTY THOUSAND Only) During this contract, the Second Party have to pay his own house rent and electricity bill everymonth, No other expenses for the above purpose will be borne by the First Party along withhis other personal expense. The Second party will borne all the expenses for keeping his all legal documents ready andtheFirst Party will help / serve with documents as and when required. Any weekly off / monthly off or holidays of the Second Party must be approved by the FirstParty.” 5.In addition, the “Compensation”sectionof the Second Contract provided, quotedverbatim: Within the mentioned contract period any of the party can leave this agreement by paying anamount of Rs.5,00,000/-(Rupees Five Lakh only). In arise of force majeure which might result termination of this agreement will be without anykind of compensation. In case of detonating performance of the football team / division the management can seekthecoach without any compensation. Camps and clinicsCoach will be authorized to direct sports camps and clinics for youths and coaches. Each year of this agreement the director and the coach shall agree upon the direction, operationstaffingand review of such camps and clinics. The director, in consultation with the GeneralSecretary-shall also agree upon the amount and types of compensation to be received bycoach and othercamp/ clinic personnel.” 6.On 19 April 2025, the Coach sent a resignation letter, via email, to the Club stating financial,sporting and extra-sporting reasonsfor his departure and his belief that he needed a “newchallenge” aligning with “his professional aspirations and professional goals”. The Coachrequested,inter alia, the “immediate disbursement of all pending salary dues and financialentitlements”, and a “return flight ticket to Belgium”. 7.On 20 April 2025, the