Why Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of Brazilian Coach Beto despite earlier FIFA decision

By Ariiho Kevin

Switzerland, (EU):- The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled in favor of former Vipers FC head coach Beto Bianchi, ordering the six-time StarTimes Premier League champions to compensate him for wrongful contract termination and cover all legal costs incurred.

The ruling, delivered at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, overturned an earlier FIFA tribunal decision that had dismissed Beto’s claim.

Beto Roberto Bianchi Luiz Palliser, a Brazilian of Spanish descent, was appointed Vipers FC head coach on January 3, 2023, on a one-and-a-half-year contract with a net monthly salary of $6,000. His contract also entitled him to an annual return ticket to Spain, as stipulated in Article 5.

However, tensions arose between Beto and the club following allegations of misconduct, including time mismanagement, insubordination, and the use of inappropriate language during meetings.

By February 23, 2023, Vipers FC had issued Beto a third warning letter citing concerns over growing player indiscipline and his “abominable body language.” Subsequently, on March 8, 2023, the club terminated his contract, invoking Article 3 (bullet 2), which allowed for automatic dismissal due to poor team performance.

A day later, Vipers FC compensated Beto with $12,000 as per Article 3 of the contract. However, Beto deemed this a breach of contract and sought further compensation.

On March 24, Beto filed a complaint with the FIFA Football Tribunal, demanding $90,000 for the remainder of his contract, €1,250 for a return ticket to Spain, and $12,000 for moral damages.

The tribunal dismissed the case, ruling that he lacked legal grounds and sufficient evidence, and rendered its decision without awarding any costs. Undeterred, Beto appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on June 21, seeking to overturn FIFA’s ruling.

The CAS, presided over by sole arbitrator Jacopo Tognon, in its ruling held that Vipers FC had terminated Beto’s contract without just cause, rendering Article 3 (paragraph two) unenforceable.

The court subsequently ordered Vipers to pay Beto $84,000 in damages for breach of contract and reimburse €1,250 for his return ticket to Spain. All other claims were dismissed.

The landmark ruling comes amidst controversies that have always surrounded the labour laws and employment contract laws in Uganda, especially within the sports arena.

Various sports commentators agree in affirmative with the Court of Arbitration’s ruling saying that many clubs in Uganda have lacked a sense of integrity and transparency hence victimizing several players in the Ugandan league because they cannot access any legal support.