This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl
The international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an institution independent of any sports organization which provides for services in order to facilitate the settlement of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation by means of procedural rules adapted to the specific needs of the sports world, has dismissed the appeal that PSV had lodged against the FIFA. Overruling the FIFA decision in the Leandro affair was the issue.FIFA had allowed the Portuguese Football Association to grant special dispensation Leandro to play for FC Porto. The Brazilian player made a move from PSV to Porto during the 2005 January transfer window, although PSV had not permitted him to do so. The player was backed by the FIFA. PSV lodge an appeal over the FIFA decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. PSV were backed by the verdict of the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Dutch Football Association that had already decreed Leandro had closed a four-and-a half-year- deal with PSV that tied him to the club until the summer of 2007. The player claimed he had completed only a three-year-deal.The CAS has now decreed that FIFA rules and are more important than the legislation in the Netherlands. The consequence is that the Portuguese registration remains valid and that the player’s move cannot be cancelled. The verdict made by the CAS could have far reaching consequences. The CAS is of the opinion that the FIFA rules affect the contracts closed between club and players and the Dutch labour law is disregarded.
