What is Locus Standi?

Locus Standi is a platform for the dispute-resolution world. It brings together arbitration, mediation and adjudication events, jobs and internships, and landmark arbitral awards explained in plain English, alongside the qualifications and pathways into the field. It was established in London at LIDW26 by the alumni of Queen Mary University of London.

Can Locus Standi help me understand a dispute?

Yes. Locus Standi offers free dispute help: paste your contract's dispute-resolution clause and a short note on what happened, and it works out the type of dispute, the governing law, your options, the right forum to file in, and drafts a basic document to start from, all in plain English.

What is the agentic AI case officer?

Locus Standi's workspace includes an AI case officer that helps practitioners run their matters: tracking stages and deadlines, raising alerts, organising to-dos and documents, and drafting. It is built for arbitrators, mediators and the institutions that administer disputes.

Where can I find arbitration events and internships?

Locus Standi keeps a live calendar of arbitration, mediation and adjudication events with one-tap calendar export, and a board of arbitration jobs and internships from institutions including the PCA, ICC, LCIA, SCC, SIAC and AIAC.

TAS 2025 A 11314-11315-11316 CF Pachuca & Club León v. FIFA (CAS)

Why it matters

This is a landmark CAS ruling on multi-club ownership in football, clarifying that a trust arrangement does not automatically cure non-compliance with FIFA's integrity rules. The Panel set a high bar for proving independence, requiring material changes to ownership and control structures. The decision impacts clubs with common ownership seeking to participate in FIFA competitions.

Summary

Club de Fútbol Pachuca and Club León, both owned by Grupo Pachuca, qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA investigated their compliance with Article 10 of the CWC Regulations, which prohibits any individual or entity from having control or influence over more than one participating club. After reviewing documents and a trust agreement (León Trust) established in April 2025, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee found the clubs non-compliant and excluded them. The clubs appealed to CAS. The Panel held that the clubs bore the burden of proving compliance. It found that Grupo Pachuca, though not a legal entity, effectively controlled both clubs through shareholding and board appointments. The León Trust did not materially change control or influence; it was created late, lacked binding effect on Club León, and did not sever the link between the clubs. The Panel dismissed the appeals and confirmed FIFA's decisions, ordering the clubs to pay CHF 10,000 in legal costs.

The detail

Parties: TAS 2025 A 11314-11315-11316 CF Pachuca & Club León v. FIFA

Outcome: CAS dismissed the appeals and confirmed FIFA's decisions that the clubs are ineligible to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup due to multi-club ownership rules.

Applicable law: FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Regulations (Article 10 on multi-club ownership), Swiss Civil Code, CAS Code of Sports-related Arbitration

Issues in play: The case involved FIFA's multi-club ownership rules (Article 10 of the CWC Regulations) versus the clubs' argument that Grupo Pachuca is not a legal entity and that a trust arrangement ensured independence. The Panel applied Swiss law and FIFA regulations to determine control and influence.

Read the full decision at Court of Arbitration for Sport (football, via FIFA) ↗

Locus Standi links to the source decision and publishes its own plain-language summary. It does not reproduce the text of the award.

Back to the awards board