FIFA facilitates appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport

A Football Legal Aid Fund (FLAF) has been established following a signed agreement between FIFA and the International Council for Arbitration for Sport (ICAS).

As of February 1st, 2023, football stakeholders may request assistance when appealing cases before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), covering travel and accommodation expenses, pro bono counsel and other costs relating to witnesses, experts and interpreters. Hence, parties will not incur any Court Office fees or additional administrative and procedural charges, namely arbitrator fees.

The FLAF, funded with an annual contribution from FIFA, will only be available to:

– Any natural person who demonstrates insufficient financial means to cover the costs of proceedings before the CAS;

– Football clubs affiliated with a member association of FIFA and part of category IV of the FIFA table on the categorization of clubs for training compensation, meaning sports bodies, associations and other entities are excluded.

When proceedings involving the FLAF occur before the CAS, they will be decided by a sole arbitrator, working on a pro bono basis.

This agreement, which is already in effect, substantially minimizes situations where athletes do not have access to CAS due to financial difficulties.