FOOTBALL THE CAS PARTIALLY UPHOLDS APPEAL BY COACH VLADIMIR FEDOTOV
Lausanne, 30 September 2025 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has partially upheld an appeal by football coach Vladimir Fedotov against JSC PFC CSKA Moscow (CSKA Moscow) concerning the early termination of his employment contract. CAS ruled that CSKA Moscow must pay the coach EUR 630,704.76 in compensation.
On 3 June 2024, CSKA Moscow informed Vladimir Fedotov of the termination of his employment contract, due to end on 30 May 2025. Mr Fedotov requested compensation equivalent to a one-year salary (EUR 2,120,016) plus interest for an early termination without just cause. The Club responded that his claim did not correspond with the terms in the contract.
Mr Fedotov subsequently lodged a claim with the Dispute Resolution Chamber of the Russian Football Union (RFU DRC) against CSKA Moscow requesting EUR 2,120,016 as compensation for termination without just cause, with interest for the delay in payment and certain documents related to his work. On 6 August 2024, the RFU DRC partially accepted the claim and obliged CSKA Moscow to provide Mr Fedotov with the documents related to his work only. The decision with grounds was issued on 3 September 2024.
CAS received an appeal on 23 September 2024 by Mr Fedotov against CSKA Moscow seeking to set aside the RFU DRC decision and obliging the Club to pay him the requested compensation with interest for the delay. On 7 March 2025, a remote hearing was held where evidence was presented before a CAS Panel.
The CAS Panel determined that the early termination of Mr Fedotov’s employment was in accordance with a condition set out in a clause of the contract. The Panel also found that the contract granted the right to an early termination, conditional to an agreement that the Party who triggered the termination must pay no less than 30% of the remaining renumeration.
Consequently, the Panel partially upheld the appeal and decided that CSKA Moscow is obliged to pay compensation to the Coach at the rate of 30% of EUR 2,120,016 (EUR 630,704.76, plus interest at a rate of 0.0266% per each day).
This is an unofficial summary for media use. A full CAS award with grounds will be published on the CAS website unless Parties request confidentiality.
