TAS - CAS 5799 de 2018

Tribunal Arbitral du Sport Court of Arbitration for Sport Arbitration CAS 2018/A/5799 Club Estudiantes de Mérida v. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) & Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez, award of 7 June 2019

Panel: Mr José Juan Pintó (Spain), President; Mr Efraim Barak (Israel); Mr João Nogueira da Rocha

(Portugal) Football Disciplinary sanction for failure to comply with a previous FIFA decision Standing to be sued Valid payment of a debt Ne bis in idem

1. The question of standing to sue or to be sued shall be reviewed ex officio by CAS’ panels. Except specific circumstances, the only party with standing to be sued in an appeal against a disciplinary decision it rendered and to which a player was not a party is FIFA. However, a player has standing to be sued with reference to the part of an appeal where an appellant requests that FIFA’s underlying decision taken by its Dispute Resolution Chamber and in which said player was a party and was awarded various amounts be declared null and void.

2. It is a debtor’s responsibility to do all relevant efforts to comply with its payment obligation in accordance with a decision and according to his creditor’s discretion to determine the details of the bank account into which an amount due is to be transferred.

The latter is therefore free not to accept a payment which would not be made on the bank account which details he has been requested to provide, which obligation he met.

3. The application of the legal principle ne bis in idem is subject to the establishment of an identity in respect of the object of the dispute, the parties and the facts.

I. PARTIES

1. Club Estudiantes de Mérida (hereinafter, the “Appellant” or the “Club”) is a football club with its registered office in Mérida, Venezuela. The Club is registered with the Venezuelan Football

Federation (Federación Venezolana de Fútbol - hereinafter, the “FVF”-), which in turn is affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

2. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (hereinafter, the “First Respondent” or “FIFA”) is an association under Swiss law which has its registered office in Zurich, Switzerland.

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Club Estudiantes de Mérida v. FIFA & Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez, award of 7 June 2019 FIFA is the world governing body of international football at a global level and exercises regulatory, supervisory and disciplinary functions over continental federations, national associations, clubs, officials and football players worldwide.

3. Andres Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez (hereinafter, the “Second Respondent” or the “Player”) is a professional player of Colombian nationality.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

4. Below is a summary of the most relevant facts and the background giving rise to the present dispute that will be developed based on the Parties’ written submissions and the evidence examined in the course of the present appeals arbitration proceedings and at the hearing.

Additional facts may be set out, where relevant, in connection with the legal analysis. In the present Award, the Panel refers only to the submissions and evidence it considers necessary to explain its reasoning. The Panel, however, has considered all the factual allegations, legal arguments and evidence submitted by the Parties during the present proceedings.

5. In 2013, the Player signed an employment contract with the Club valid from 11 January 2013 until 31 December 2013 (hereinafter, the “Contract”).

6. The FIFTH clause of the Contract established that the Player “devengará Honorarios profesionales mensuales por el periodo (…) de este Contrato, por un monto de CINCO MIL QUINIENTOS DOLARES AMERICANOS (5.500,00 $) montos que serán pagados directamente o acreditados en

mensualidades vencidas, en moneda de curso legal, mediante depósito o transferencia a una cuenta bancaria cuyo titular sea “El Jugador”. Freely translated into English as follows: “the Player will earn monthly professional fees for the period (…) of this Contract, for an amount of FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AMERICAN DOLLARS ($ 5,500.00) amounts that will be paid directly or credited in due installments, in the legal currency, by deposit or transfer to a bank account whose owner be “The Player”.

7. The Club failed to pay the Player the corresponding salary for the months of February, March, April and May 2013.

8. On 14 June 2013, the Player granted a power of attorney to the Asociación Única de Futbolistas Profesionales de Venezuela (hereinafter, the “Union”), to represent him before the national Dispute Resolution Chamber of the FVF (hereinafter, the “NDRC”). In such power of attorney the Player authorized the Union “to receive amounts of money owed to me by granting the corresponding receipt”

(in its original Spanish: “recibir cantidades de dinero que se me adeuden otorgando su respectivo recibo”).

9. On 19 June 2013, the Union, on behalf of the Player, filed a claim against the Club before the NDRC for breach of contract and specifically requested the following: CAS 2018/A/5799 3

Club Estudiantes de Mérida v. FIFA & Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez, award of 7 June 2019 “a la fecha se le adeuda a nuestro representado la cantidad de CIENTO TREINTA Y OCHO MIL SEICIENTOS (Bs.138.600) correspondiente a los meses de FEBRERO, MARZO, ABRIL, MAYO, más los intereses generados y la indexación de la deuda. Por lo que el Club ESTUDIANTES DE MÉRIDA adeuda la cantidad de CUATRO MESES (…).

PETITORIO Por todos y cada uno de los razonamientos de hecho y de derecho es por la que ocurro ante su competente autoridad para SOLICITAR DE MANERA INMEDIATA LA LIBERTAD DEL JUGADOR ANDRES LIZARDO ANGULO QUIÑONES, AUTORIZÁNDOLO A JUGAR EN CUALQUIER OTRO CLUB LA PRÓXIMA TEMPORADA y condenar al Club ESTUDIANTES DE MÉRIDA para que convenga en pagar a favor de mi representado CIENTO TREINTA Y OCHO MIL SEISCIENTOS (Bs.138.600) adicionalmente sea aplicada la INDEXACIÓN DE LA DEUDA (…)” (bold and underlined as the original document). Freely translated into English as follows: “until today, the amount of ONE HUNDRED and THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED (Bs.138.600) is owed to our represented player corresponding to the months of FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, plus the accrued interests and the indexation of the debt. Thus, the Club ESTUDIANTES DE MÉRIDA owes the amount of FOUR

MONTHS (…).

PRAYERS FOR RELIEF For each and every one of the factual and legal reasons I concur before your competent authority in order to IMMEDIATELY REQUEST THE RELEASE OF THE PLAYER ANDRES LIZARDO ANGULO QUIÑONES, AUTHORIZING HIM TO PLAY IN ANY OTHER CLUB FOR THE NEXT SEASON and sentence the Club ESTUDIANTES DE MÉRIDA to pay in favor of my represented Player ONE HUNDRED and THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED (Bs.138.600) and additionally to apply the

INDEXATION OF THE DEBT (…)”.

10. Meanwhile, on 2 January 2014, the Player, through his lawyer Mrs Melanie Schärer, filed a second claim against the Club before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (hereinafter, the

“FIFA DRC”) by which it requested the following: “1. El demandado deberá pagar al demandante la suma de USD 22,000 a título de salarios adeudados para los meses de febrero, marzo, abril y mayo de 2013, más un interés del 5% por año a partir de la fecha de vencimiento de cada salario mensual, hasta la fecha del pago efectivo.

2. El demandado deberá pagar al demandante la suma de USD 33,000 a título de indemnización, más un interés del 5% por año a partir de la sumisión de la presente demanda, hasta la fecha del pago efectivo”.

Freely translated into English as follows: CAS 2018/A/5799 4 Club Estudiantes de Mérida v. FIFA & Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez, award of 7 June 2019 “1. The defendant shall pay the claimant the sum of USD 22,000 as owed salaries corresponding to the months of February, March, April and May 2013, plus a default interest at a rate of 5% per year as from the due date of every monthly salary until the day of effective payment.

2. The defendant shall pay the claimant the sum of USD 33,000 as compensation, plus a default interest at a rate of 5% per year as from the submission of this claim until the day of effective payment”.

11. On 20 January 2014, the FVF received a FIFA communication dated 7 January 2014 with the request to notify the Club of the Player’s claim (and attachments) against it. Moreover, the Club was granted with a deadline of 28 January 2014 to provide its position to the Player’s claim.

12. On 21 January 2014, the FVF notified the Club of the FIFA’s letter dated 7 January 2014. Said communication was signed as acknowledgement of receipt, by Mr Alberto Angulo, general

manager of the Club at that time.

13. Despite having received the FIFA’s communication, the Club did not file any position or answer against the Player’s claim before FIFA in the given deadline.

14. On 7 February 2014, the NDRC decided that the Club should pay various debts to several footballers, including the Player. In particular, the NDRC stated that an amount of Bs. 138.600, corresponding to four months of unpaid salary, should be paid to the Player. The relevant part of the aforementioned decision reads as follows (hereinafter, the “NDRC Decision”): “DISPOSITIVO Se determina que el CLUB ESTUDIANTES DE MÉRIDA F.C. debe cancelar a los jugadores: (…) v) ANDRES LIZARDO ANGULO QUIÑONES la suma CIENTO TREINTA Y OCHO MIL SEISCIENTOS BOLIVARES (Bs.138.600) que corresponden a los meses de salario febrero, marzo abril y mayo de 2013”.

Freely translated into English as follows: “DISPOSITIVE It is decided that CLUB ESTUDIANTES DE MÉRIDA F.C. shall pay the players: (…) v) ANDRES LIZARDO ANGULO QUIÑONES the sum of ONE HUNDRED THIRTYEIGHT THOUSAND and SIX HUNDRED BOLIVARS (Bs.138.600) corresponding to the salary of February, March, April and May 2013”.

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15. On 26 February 2014, the Player requested that the Club comply with the NDRC Decision and transfer “la suma de Bs.138.600 correspondiente a los meses de salario febrero, marzo, abril y mayo 2013”

(freely translated into English as follows: “The amount of Bs.138.600 corresponding to the monthly salary of February, March, April and May 2013”) to his bank account in Bogotá, Colombia.

16. On 7 March 2014, the FIFA DRC communicated to the Player and the Club (the latter via the FVF) that despite not having received the Club’s position with regard to the Player’s claim, the investigation phase of the case was deemed closed. In such communication, FIFA also requested that the FVF provide the Club’s fax number.

17. On 9 March 2015, after the Club’s failure to comply with the NDRC Decision, the Disciplinary Commission of the FVF sanctioned the Club with a 6-point deduction in the Venezuelan league.

18. On 15 April 2015, the Club delivered a cheque amounting to Bs. 138.600 to the Consejo de Honor FVF in order to pay the Player.

19. On the same day, 15 April 2015, Mr Timshel Tabarez, representative of the Union, collected the cheque for the Player.

20. On 7 May 2015, the FIFA DRC communicated to the Player and the Club (the latter via the FVF) that the case would be submitted for decision. FIFA requested that the FVF, once again, provide the fax number of the Club.

21. On 12 May 2015, the FIFA DRC reached a decision with regard to the Player’s claim filed before FIFA. The findings of such decision read as follows (hereinafter, the “FIFA DRC Decision”): “1. La demanda del demandante, Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñones, es parcialmente aceptada.

2. El demandado, Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC, debe pagarle al demandante, dentro de los próximos 30 días a partir de la fecha de notificación de la presente decisión, la cantidad de

USD 22,000, correspondiente a salarios pendientes de pago, más intereses del 5% anual hasta la fecha de pago efectivo, aplicables de la siguiente manera: a. 5% p.a sobre la cantidad de USD 5,500 desde el 1 de marzo de 2013; b. 5% p.a sobre la cantidad de USD 5,500 desde el 1 de abril de 2013; c. 5% p.a sobre la cantidad de USD 5,500 desde el 1 de mayo de 2013; d. 5% p.a sobre la cantidad de USD 5,500 desde el 1 de junio de 2013;

3. El demandado debe pagarle al demandante, dentro de los próximos 30 días a partir de la fecha de notificación de la presente decisión, la cantidad de USD 5,500 como indemnización por incumplimiento contractual más intereses del 5% anual desde el 2 de enero de 2014 hasta la fecha de pago efectivo.

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4. En caso de que las cantidades adeudadas al demandante conforme a los puntos 2. y 3. anteriores más intereses no fueran pagadas dentro de los plazos establecidos, el caso se trasladará, a solicitud de parte, a la Comisión Disciplinaria de la FIFA para su consideración y decisión formal.

5. Cualquier otra demanda del demandante es rechazada.

6. El demandante deberá comunicar directa e inmediatamente al demandado el número de cuenta en la que deberá depositarse la suma adeudada, así como también informar al juez de la CRD sobre cualquier

pago efectuado. (…) En un plazo de 10 días tras la recepción de esta notificación se podrá solicitar por escrito a la secretaria general de la FIFA el fundamento íntegro de la decisión. En su defecto, la decisión se considerará firme y vinculante y se asumirá que las partes han renunciado a su derecho de apelar”. Freely translated into English as follows1: “1. The claim of the claimant, Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñones, is partially accepted.

2. The respondent, Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC, shall pay the claimant, within 30 days from the date of notification of this decision, the amount of USD 22,000 corresponding to outstanding salaries, plus 5% of interest per year until the date of effective payment as follows: a. 5% p.a on the amount of USD 5,500 from 1 March 2013; b. 5% p.a on the amount of USD 5,500 from 1 April 2013; c. 5% p.a on the amount of USD 5,500 from 1 May 2013; d. 5% p.a on the amount of USD 5,500 from 1 June 2013;

3. The respondent is ordered to pay the claimant, within 30 days from the date of notification of this decision, the amount of USD 5,500 corresponding to compensation for breach of contract plus 5% per year as of 2 January 2014 until the date of effective payment.

4. If the aforementioned outstanding amounts are not paid in accordance with points 2 and 3 above and within the established deadlines, the present case shall be submitted, upon request of the interested party, to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for consideration and a formal decision.

5. Any other claim of the claimant is rejected.

6. The claimant shall inform the respondent immediately and directly of the account number to which the

remittance is to be made and to notify the DRC judge of every payment received”. 1 Translated by FIFA within its Answer to the Appeal, not objected by the Appellant.

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22. On 4 June 2015, the FVF notified the findings of the FIFA DRC Decision to Mr Pasquale Coppola, sporting director of the Club, who signed a FVF letter as acknowledgement of receipt.

23. On the same day, 4 June 2015, the Club’s president at that time, Mr Frank Roberto Castillo Salazar, informed FIFA that the Club had already paid the Player (through the Union) the amount of Bs. 138.600 in accordance with the NDRC Decision of 7 February 2014, and, therefore, there was no decision for FIFA to make.

24. None of the parties requested the grounds of the FIFA DRC Decision.

25. On 19 June 2015, FIFA answered the Club’s letter of 4 June 2015 and informed them that the FIFA DRC had already resolved the matter. In addition, FIFA suggested that the Club contact the Player directly.

26. On 27 July 2015, the Club filed an “escrito de apelación” before FIFA stating that, on 15 April 2015, it had already paid the amount of Bs. 138,600 to the Player, in accordance with NDRC Decision, and that FIFA had no competence to decide the dispute.

27. On 29 July 2015, FIFA referred to its previous letter of 19 June 2015 and stated that, as none of the parties requested the grounds of the FIFA DRC Decision, such decision had become final and binding and the parties’ right to appeal had been waived.

28. On 30 July 2015, the Player informed FIFA that the Club failed to comply with the FIFA DRC

Decision and requested that the case be submitted to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

29. On 18 August 2015, FIFA sent a communication to the Club, via the FVF, urging it to pay the outstanding amounts by 28 August 2015.

30. The Club did not pay the amounts of the FIFA DRC Decision by the given deadline.

31. On 29 September 2015, FIFA informed the Club, via the FVF, that the case would be submitted for consideration and formal decision to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

32. On 20 January, 3 March, 5 April, 16 April and 16 June 2016, the Player requested that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee sanction the Club for not paying the amounts of the FIFA DRC

Decision.

33. On 17 August 2016, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee informed the Club that it had opened disciplinary proceedings against it for its failure to comply with the FIFA DRC Decision. FIFA, once again, invited the Club to pay the amounts owed to the Player.

34. On 18 August 2016, the Club reiterated that it had already paid the amount of Bs. 138, 600 through the cheque given to the Union (received by Mr Timshel Ismael Tabarez) and stated that the disciplinary proceedings should be closed.

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35. On 5 September 2016, the Appellant informed FIFA that, on 9 March 2015, the FVF had already sanctioned the Club with a 6-point deduction and, based on principles of res judicata and ne bis in idem, the disciplinary proceedings before FIFA should be closed.

36. On 8 November 2016, the Player informed FIFA that the amount paid by the Club to the Union was equivalent to USD 500 and that it did not correspond to the amounts granted in the

FIFA DRC Decision. Furthermore, the Player stated that he was willing to reduce Bs. 138, 600 from the total amount granted in the FIFA DRC Decision as long as the Union transferred him such amount.

37. On 18 November 2016, the Club filed several documents before FIFA intended to demonstrate that the cheque of Bs. 138, 600 had been delivered to the Union and that it had complied with

the NDRC Decision.

38. On 12 December 2016 and 8 October 2017, the Player requested that FIFA, once again, take disciplinary sanctions against the Club.

39. On 12 December 2017, FIF-Pro confirmed that the Union had received “un cheque por parte del Club Estudiantes de Mérida para el Sr. Angulo el 15 de abril de 2015, pero que no fue en relación a la decisión de la CRD de la FIFA. Igualmente, se nos informó que dicho cheque no fue cobrado, sigue estando en posesión de AUFPV [i.e. the Union], y ya está vencido”.

Freely translated into English as follows: “a cheque from the Club Estudiantes de Mérida to Mr Angulo on 15 April 2015, but that it was not related to the FIFA DRC Decision. Furthermore, we were informed that such cheque had not been cashed, it is still in possession of the Players’ Union and it has already expired”.

40. On 15 December 2017 and 16 February 2018, FIFA urged the Club to pay the outstanding amounts owed to the Player and to provide proof of payment.

41. On 15 January and 28 February 2018, the Club insisted that FIFA close the disciplinary proceedings based on the principles of res judicata and ne bis in idem.

42. On 1 March 2018, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee rendered the following decision

(hereinafter, the “Appealed Decision”): “1. El Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC es considerado culpable del incumplimiento de la

decisión del juez de la Cámara de Resolución de Disputas de la FIFA de fecha 12 de mayo de 2015 y, por consiguiente, en violación del art.64 del Código Disciplinario de la FIFA.

2. Se condena al Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC a pagar una multa de CHF 5,000

(francos suizos). La multa deberá abonarse en los treinta (30) días siguientes a la notificación de la presente decisión. (…) CAS 2018/A/5799 9 Club Estudiantes de Mérida v. FIFA & Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez, award of 7 June 2019

3. Se otorga al Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC un último plazo de 30 días a partir de la notificación de la presente decisión para saldar su deuda con el acreedor, el jugador Andrés Lizardo

Angulo Quiñones.

4. Si el pago no se efectúa dentro de este plazo, el acreedor podrá solicitar por escrito a la secretaría de la Comisión Disciplinaria de la FIFA la deducción de tres (3) puntos al primer equipo del deudor en el campeonato nacional. Una vez que esta solicitud haya sido realizada, los puntos deberán obligatoria y automáticamente ser deducidos, sin que la Comisión Disciplinaria de la FIFA tenga que tomar una decisión formal. La secretaría de la Comisión Disciplinaria de la FIFA dará a la asociación en cuestión la orden de ejecución de la deducción de puntos.

5. Si, tras la deducción de los puntos conforme a lo estipulado en el punto 4., el Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC sigue sin saldar su deuda, la Comisión Disciplinaria de la FIFA decidirá sobre una posible relegación del primer equipo del deudor a la categoría inmediatamente inferior.

(…)

7. Las costas y gastos de este procedimiento ascendiendo a la cantidad de CHF 1,000 quedan a cargo del Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC. Este monto se deberá abonar observando las modalidades de pago establecidas en el punto 2. ut supra”.

Freely translated into English as follows: “1. The Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC is pronounced guilty of failing to comply with the decision passed by the Judge of the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 12 May 2015 and is, therefore, in violation of Article 64 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

2. The Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC is ordered to pay a fine to the amount of CHF 5,000. The fine is to be paid within thirty (30) days of notification of the present decision.

(…)

3. The Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC is granted a final period of grace of 30 days as from notification of the present decision to settle its debt with the creditor, the player Andrés Lizardo

Angulo Quiñones.

4. If the payment is not made by this deadline, the creditor may demand in writing from the secretariat to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee that three (3) points be deducted from the debtor’s first team in the domestic league championship. Once the creditor has filed this request, the points will be deducted automatically, without a further formal decision having to be taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. The order to implement the points deduction will be issued on the association concerned by the secretariat to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

5. If, the Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC still fails to pay the amounts due even after deduction of the points in accordance with point 4 above, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee will decide on a possible relegation of the debtor’s first team to the next lower division.

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7. The costs of these proceedings amounting to CHF 1,000, are to be borne by the Club Sociedad Civil Estudiantes de Mérida FC and shall be paid according to the modalities stipulated under point 2 above”.

43. On 4 June 2018, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee notified the grounds of the Appealed Decision to the parties, which can be summarized as follows: - The Club is guilty of failing to comply with the FIFA DRC Decision and, thus, of violating article 64 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. - Considering that the Club is illegally withholding the creditor’s money, it is considered appropriate to fine the Club for CHF 5,000, which complies with the established practice of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. - It is also considered appropriate to grant the Club with a final deadline of 30 days to pay the amounts due to FIFA and to the Player. - In accordance with article 64 of FIFA Disciplinary Code, the Club is warned that, in case of default of payment within the stipulated period and at the request of the creditor, 3 points will be deducted from its first team in the domestic league. The number of points to be deducted is considered appropriate in light of the owed amount and the constant practice of FIFA. - The costs of the disciplinary proceedings shall be borne by the Club (CHF 1.000).

III. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT

44. On 25 June 2018, pursuant to Articles R47 and R48 of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration

(hereinafter, the “CAS Code”), the Club filed a Statement of Appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (hereinafter, the “CAS”) against the Appealed Decision rendered by the

FIFA Disciplinary Committee on 1 March 2018, requesting the following: “Club Estudiantes de Mérida FC applies for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to rule as follows:

I. The DRC Decision of May 12th, 2015 to be declared null and void.

II. The Disciplinary Decision of the March 1th, 2018 to be set aside.

III. Fédération Internationale de Football Association and Mr Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez shall be ordered to bear all arbitration costs, if any, and to reimburse Club Estudiantes de Mérida FC the minimum CAS court office fee of CHF 1000.

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IV. Fédération Internationale de Football Association and Mr Andrés Lizardo Angulo Quiñonez to pay Club Estudiantes de Mérida FC a contribution towards the legal and other costs incurred in the framework of these proceedings in an amount to be determined at a stage or at the discretion of the

Panel”.

45. Furthermore, the Appellant requested in its Statement of Appeal (i) the conduction of the proceedings in Spanish, (ii) the production of the full case files of the proceedings before FIFA and (iii) the suspension of the deadline to file the Appeal Brief until the reception of the requested files.

46. On 27 June 2018, the First Respondent proposed to conduct the present arbitration proceedings in English without the need to translate any written evidence that may be filed in Spanish. The Second Respondent also agreed to this proposal.

47. On 28 June 2018, pursuant to Article R29 of the CAS Code, the CAS Court Office confirmed that the proceedings would be conducted in English.

48. On 27 July 2018, pursuant to Article R54 of the CAS Code, the CAS Court Office informed

the Parties that the Panel appointed to settle the present dispute would be composed of the following: President: Mr José Juan Pintó, Attorney-at-Law in Barcelona, Spain; Arbitrators: Mr Efraim Barak, Attorney-at-Law, in Tel Aviv, Israel (appointed by the Appellant); Mr João Nogueira da Rocha, Attorney-at-Law, in Lisbon, Portugal (jointly appointed by the Respondents).

49. On 2 August 2018, the CAS Court Office informed the Parties that Mr Roberto Nájera Reyes, attorney-at-law in Barcelona, Spain, had been appointed as ad hoc Clerk in this matter.

50. On the same day, 2 August 2018, the First Respondent was requested to provide the CAS Court Office with the full case files of the DRC and the disciplinary proceedings before FIFA.

51. On 13 August 2018, the First Respondent provided the CAS Court Office with the requested files and the Appellant was granted a deadline to file its Appeal Brief.

52. On 28 August 2018, the Appellant lodged its Appeal Brief pursuant to Article R51 of the CAS Code confirming the requests for relief filed in its Statement of Appeal.

53. On 28 September 2018, the Second Respondent filed its Answer to the Appeal with the following requests for relief: “1. To reject the Appellant’s appeal and to confirm the decision passed by the Disciplinary Committee of FIFA on 1 March 2018.

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2. To order the Appellant to bear all the costs incurred through the present procedure, as well as all legal costs incurred by the second Respondent”.

54. On 1 October 2018, the First Respondent filed its Answer to the Appeal with the following

requests for relief:

“1. To reject the Appellant’s appeal in its entirety.

2. To confirm the decision 160482 PST VEN ZH passed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on 1

March 2018 hereby appealed against.

3. To order the Appellant to bear all costs and legal expenses related to the present procedure”.

55. On 3 October 2018, the CAS Court Office advised the Parties that, pursuant to Article R56 of the CAS Code, they were no longer authorized to supplement or amend their requests or their arguments, produce new exhibits, or specify further evidence on which they intended to rely.

Furthermore, the Parties were invited to inform the CAS Court Office whether they preferred a hearing to be held in this matter or for the Panel to issue an award based solely on the Parties’ written submissions.

56. On 5 and 8 October 2018, the Second and First Respondent, respectively, informed the CAS Court Office that they did not consider holding a hearing necessary.

57. On 15 October 2018, the Appellant informed the CAS Court Office that it did not consider holding a hearing necessary but requested a second round of written submissions from the CAS.

58. On 16 October 2018, the CAS Court Office informed the Parties that the Panel, pursuant to Article R57 of the CAS Code, had decided to hold a hearing on the present matter and to reject the Appellant’s request for a second round of written submissions.

59. On 28 October 2018, the Second Respondent fi