By decision dated 3 October 2024, the Swiss Federal Tribunal (SFT) dismissed a civil law appeal lodged by an Ivorian football club (Appellant or Club) against an arbitral award rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 18 March 2024 (CAS 2022/A/9157).

The Club’s appeal before CAS resulted from a decision passed by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) dismissing its claim for compensation for breach of contract against a then-minor player (Player) and his new club from Norway (together with the Player Respondents).

The core issues revolved around the validity of an employment contract signed between the Club and the Player, the authenticity of the Player’s signature on said contract and the graphological expertise.

The appeal was based on two grounds: violation of the right to be heard and breach of public policy. The SFT rejected both arguments, reaffirming the CAS’s broad power to assess the facts and law under...

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