CAS 2024/A/10427 Right to Dream FC v. Fédération Internationale de Football Association
CAS · Football (FIFA / CAS) · Switzerland · 23 May 2025
Why it matters
This case highlights the procedural importance of joining all necessary parties in CAS appeals, particularly when a decision affects a non-party's financial interests. It also demonstrates the CAS's power under Article R57 to refer a case back to the first instance for further investigation, ensuring that factual errors in FIFA's EPP system can be corrected without violating due process.
Summary
Right to Dream FC (RTD), a Ghanaian football club, appealed a FIFA decision regarding the Electronic Player Passport (EPP) of player Ernest Nuamah Appiah. The EPP showed that during the player's 12th to 16th birthdays (1 August 2015 to 18 March 2019), he was registered with 'Stadium Youth Club', a defunct club, rather than RTD. As a result, the solidarity contribution for his transfer from FC Nordsjælland to Racing White Daring Molenbeek was awarded to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) instead of RTD. RTD argued that the EPP was incorrect and that the player was actually registered with RTD during that period. FIFA maintained that the EPP was based on information from the GFA and that RTD should have raised the issue earlier. The CAS Sole Arbitrator found that the GFA was a necessary party because any decision on the merits would affect its financial entitlement. Since RTD did not join the GFA, the Sole Arbitrator could not decide the merits without violating the GFA's right to be heard. However, under Article R57 of the CAS Code, the Sole Arbitrator annulled the FIFA decision and referred the case back to FIFA to reconsider the new evidence provided by RTD, including a transfer agreement and correspondence with the GFA. The costs were allocated 75% to RTD and 25% to FIFA, with each party bearing its own legal costs.
The detail
Parties: CAS 2024/A/10427 Right to Dream FC v. Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Outcome: The appeal is partially allowed; the FIFA decision of 23 February 2024 is annulled and the matter is referred back to FIFA to reconsider in light of new evidence.
Applicable law: FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), FIFA Clearing House Regulations (FCHR), CAS Code of Sports-related Arbitration
Issues in play: The case involved the allocation of solidarity contribution for a player's training period. The key issue was whether the Electronic Player Passport (EPP) correctly identified the club entitled to the contribution, and whether the Ghana Football Association (GFA) should have been joined as a party.
Read the full decision at Court of Arbitration for Sport (football, via FIFA) ↗
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