webeeui-hero-2-colContracts & Salaries
Sports contracts & salaries : Defend Your Rights Against Your Employer and Partners
Unpaid wages? Unfair breach of contract? Unjustified dismissal? Defaulting sponsor or partner?
We intervene to ensure your rights are respected.
Your club hasn't paid your wages for several months. You have been brutally sidelined from the professional squad without explanation. Your contract has been terminated prematurely, and you consider this to be unfair. Your sponsor or equipment supplier does not respect its contractual commitments or uses your image without authorization.
These situations can jeopardize your career and financial stability. When faced with an employer or business partner who does not respect its commitments, you need a lawyer who knows the procedures applicable to sportsmen and sportswomen, whether before the Labour Court or the Court of First Instance.
Cabinet Bertrand has been defending athletes and trainers in all their contractual disputes with their employers since 1973.
Our exclusive expertise in sports law and our daily practice before sports commissions, industrial tribunals and international bodies (FIFA, CAS) enable us to assert your rights and obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.
webeeui-centered-3-colWhat's your situation?
A contractual dispute can arise at any time in your career: with your employer (club, federation, sports organization) or with your commercial partners (sponsors, equipment suppliers). Whatever your situation, we'll analyze your contract, the breaches found and the remedies available to defend your interests.
Not listed below? Contact us: each case is unique.
Unpaid wages or bonuses
Your club, federation or sports organization is not meeting its payment obligations. You have not received all or part of your contractual remuneration.
Situations concerned:
- Non-payment or late payment of wages for several months
- Disputed performance, qualification or tenure bonuses
- Benefits in kind not provided (housing, vehicle, bonus)
- Disputes over amounts paid or remuneration calculations
- Non-payment of social security contributions by the employer
- ...
Abusive early termination of fixed-term contract or specific fixed-term contract
Your fixed-term contract has been terminated early by your employer. You are contesting this termination or its conditions.
Situations concerned :
- Early termination for serious misconduct
- Abusive non-renewal of the contract
- Termination without complying with legal requirements
- Disputed reason for termination
- Termination during a period of protection (illness, accident)
- Request to convert fixed-term contract into open-ended contract
- ...
Dismissal without real and serious cause from a permanent contract
You have been dismissed from your open-ended contract position and believe that the dismissal was unjustified or irregular.
Situations concerned :
- Dismissal for disputed economic reasons
- Dismissal without real and serious cause
- Dismissal for serious misconduct that you contest
- Non-compliance with legal dismissal procedure
- Discriminatory dismissal
- Moral harassment
- ...
Dismissal or change of duties
Your employer has unilaterally modified your working conditions or dismissed you from the group without legitimate sporting justification.
Situations concerned :
- Exclusion from group training sessions without justification
- Systematic failure to attend official matches
- Placement in reserve or with youth teams without sporting justification
- Coach dismissed or demoted
- Change of position or removal of responsibilities
- Denial of access to facilities (changing room, parking)
- ...
International contractual dispute (soccer)
You are a soccer player or coach and you have a dispute with a foreign club or national federation and your dispute has an international dimension.
Situations concerned:
- Non-payment of wages by a foreign club or federation
- Breach of international contract without just cause
- Dispute over bonuses and contractual benefits with a foreign club
- Dispute against a decision of the FIFA Football Tribunal
- Dispute between two clubs from different countries
- ...
Dispute over image, sponsorship or partnership contract
Your sponsor, equipment manufacturer or commercial partner is not fulfilling its contractual commitments to you.
Situations concerned:
- Non-payment of contractual royalties or fees
- Early termination of the sponsorship contract by the partner
- Unauthorized use of your image or name
- Non-compliance with exclusivity clauses by the partner
- Contestation of renewal or termination conditions
- Failure to meet visibility or promotional obligations
- ...
webeeui-left-split-toggleOur services by type of dispute
Wage disputes and unpaid bonuses
Who we represent
Athletes and trainers facing unpaid wages
- Professional players (soccer, rugby, basketball, handball, volleyball, field hockey)
- Paid amateur players
- Head and assistant coaches (clubs and national teams)
- Technical staff (physical trainers, video analysts)
- Professional jockeys and riders
- eSporters under contract
Situations concerned:
- Non-payment or repeated late payment of wages
- Contested performance, qualification or tenure bonuses
- Benefits in kind not provided (housing, vehicle, various bonuses)
- Disputes over amounts paid or calculations
- Non-payment of social security contributions
- ...
Our intervention
- ✅ Formal formal notice to the employer with a breakdown of the sums due
- ✅ Referral to the relevant legal commission (LFP, FFF, LNR, LNB, LNH)
- ✅ Summary proceedings before the Conseil de Prud'hommes (fast-track procedure)
- ✅ Proceedings on the merits before the Conseil de Prud'hommes (industrial tribunal)
- ✅ International proceedings before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (soccer players)
- ✅ International proceedings before the FIFA Players' Status Chamber (soccer coaches)
- ✅ Negotiation of settlement protocols
My club owes me several months' salary. What should I do?
We start by issuing a formal notice of default setting out the precise amounts owed. If this formal notice has no effect, we take the matter to the Conseil de Prud'hommes for summary proceedings to obtain prompt payment. At the same time, we can refer the matter to the relevant legal committee (LFP for professional soccer), which can impose sanctions on the defaulting club (ban on recruitment, penalties). In the event of persistent non-payment, we may consider terminating the contract at the employer's expense.
Termination of fixed-term contracts and sports-specific fixed-term contracts
Who do we represent?
Athletes and trainers on fixed-term or fixed-term specific contracts
- Professional players on specific fixed-term contracts (article L.222-2-3 of the French Sports Code)
- Players on customary fixed-term contracts
- Coaches (main and assistant) on fixed-term contracts
- Technical staff on fixed-term contracts
Situations concerned :
- Early termination for serious misconduct
- Abusive non-renewal of contract
- Termination without compliance with legal requirements
- Termination during a protection period (illness, accident)
- Request for conversion of fixed-term contract into open-ended contract (failure to comply with formalities)
- ...
Our intervention
- ✅ In-depth analysis of contract and circumstances of termination
- ✅ Assessment of the degree of fault and chances of success
- ✅ Challenge before the Conseil de Prud'hommes (first instance)
- ✅ Claim for damages for wrongful termination (wages up to term)
- ✅ Assessment of and claim for overtime pay
- ✅ Depending on the case, claim for compensation for moral harassment or concealed work
- ✅ Request for reclassification of fixed-term contract as open-ended contract and related compensation
- ✅ Appeal to the Court of Appeal (social division)
- ✅ Negotiation of settlement agreements
- ✅ Referral to and proceedings before the FIFA Football Tribunal for players (against a foreign club) and coaches (against a foreign club or federation for national coaches).
My fixed-term contract has been terminated for "serious misconduct". Can I contest this?
Yes, serious misconduct must be so serious as to make it impossible for the employee to remain with the company, even during the notice period. We analyze the facts of the case and contest the classification if it is unjustified. If the termination is deemed unfair, you may be awarded damages corresponding to the wages you would have received until the end of the contract.
What are the consequences of converting a fixed-term contract into an open-ended contract?
Requalification occurs in particular when the strict rules governing the form of a specific fixed-term contract have not been respected: absence of a written document, missing obligatory information, incorrect duration. The contract is then deemed to have been concluded for an indefinite period from the outset. The termination of the contract becomes a dismissal, entitling the employee to compensation in lieu of notice, severance pay and a specific requalification indemnity.
Wrongful dismissal (permanent contract)
Who do we represent?
Administrative staff and coaches on permanent contracts
- Coaches and technical directors on permanent contracts
- Administrative staff
- Technical and medical staff (trainers, physiotherapists, sports doctors)
- Sports management staff
Situations concerned:
- Dismissal for contested economic reasons
- Unfounded dismissal for real and serious cause
- Dismissal for serious or gross misconduct that you dispute
- Non-compliance with legal dismissal procedure
- Discriminatory or retaliatory dismissal
- ...
Our intervention
- ✅ Analysis of the letter of dismissal and the reasons given for dismissal
- ✅ Assessment of the chances of success and the damage suffered
- ✅ Challenge before the Conseil de Prud'hommes (industrial tribunal)
- ✅ Claiming damages for dismissal without real and serious cause
- ✅ Claim for back pay and indemnities (notice, dismissal, paid leave)
- ✅ Assessment and claim for overtime pay
- ✅ Depending on the case, claim for compensation for moral harassment or concealed work
- ✅ Appeal to the Court of Appeal (social division)
- ✅ Negotiation of severance agreements or settlement agreements.
What compensation can I claim for unfair dismissal?
If your dismissal is judged to be without real and serious cause, you can obtain: the legal or contractual severance pay, compensation in lieu of notice, compensation in lieu of paid leave, and damages, the amount of which depends on your seniority and the harm suffered. The "Macron" scale governs these indemnities, but certain exceptions apply (nullity of dismissal).
Breach of contract and change of duties
Who do we represent?
Athletes and trainers faced with breach of contract by their employer
- Players sidelined from the professional squad
- Coaches demoted or deprived of their prerogatives
- Technical staff whose duties have been modified
- Any sports employee who is the victim of a unilateral modification of contract.
Situations concerned:
- Suspension from the professional group without sporting justification
- Unilateral modification of duties (demotion)
- Degradation of working conditions and moral harassment
- Abusive internal disciplinary sanctions (excluding federal commissions)
- Non-compliance with contractual working conditions
- Withdrawal of contractual benefits
- ...
Our intervention
- ✅ Statement of employer's failings (attestations, letters, evidence)
- ✅ Formal notice to comply with the terms of the contract
- ✅ Referral to the Conseil de Prud'hommes for forced execution
- ✅ Taking action against the employer for breach of contract
- ✅ Judicial termination of employment contract
- ✅ Claim for damages for loss suffered
- ✅ Depending on the case, claim for compensation for moral harassment
I've been excluded from the group. Is this my employer's fault?
Unjustified dismissal constitutes a unilateral modification of the employment contract. The employer is obliged to provide work for his employee. Prolonged lay-offs not motivated by legitimate sporting reasons may justify the termination of the contract at the employer's expense, producing the effects of a dismissal without real and serious cause. The case law Leduc v Olympique de Marseille (1973) established this principle for trainers.
What is a "prise d'acte"?
A "prise d'acte" allows an employee to terminate his or her contract by attributing responsibility to the employer for serious breaches (non-payment of wages, unilateral modification of the contract, dismissal). If the Conseil de Prud'hommes deems the grievances to be well-founded, the termination has the effect of a dismissal without real and serious cause. Otherwise, it has the effect of a resignation.
International contractual disputes (soccer)
Who do we represent?
Soccer players and coaches involved in international disputes
- Soccer players (French abroad or foreigners in France)
- Soccer coaches (all levels)
- Disputes with clubs from all countries (Europe, Africa, Asia, America)
- National coaches & technical staff
Situations concerned:
- Non-payment of wages by a foreign club
- Dispute with a foreign federation
- Breach of international contract without just cause
- Dispute over bonuses and contractual benefits with a foreign club
- Challenging a decision of the FIFA Football Tribunal
- Dispute between two clubs from different countries
- ...
Our intervention
- ✅ Proceedings before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC ) for soccer players
- ✅ Procedure before the FIFA Players' Status Chamber for soccer coaches
- ✅ Appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne
- ✅ Execution of FIFA and CAS decisions in the countries concerned
- ✅ Representation in French or English
My former foreign club owes me wages. Which body should I contact?
If you're a soccer player, FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) has jurisdiction over all contractual disputes with an international dimension. If you are a soccer trainer, the FIFA Players' Status Chamber has jurisdiction. FIFA procedures are free of charge. Decisions may be appealed to the CAS in Lausanne. Sentences are enforceable and the defaulting club risks sporting sanctions (ban on recruitment, deduction of points).
What is "sporting just cause" under FIFA law?
FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTJ) stipulate that a player or coach may terminate his contract for "just cause" when the employer has committed serious breaches: non-payment of wages for more than two months, unilateral modification of the contract, abusive behaviour. This termination does not entitle the club to compensation, and allows the athlete to freely commit himself elsewhere.
Disputes over image, sponsorship and partnership contracts
Who do we represent?
Athletes with commercial contracts with partners
- Top-level athletes with sponsorship contracts
- Professional players with image contracts
- Athletes with OEM contracts
- Sports influencers with partnership contracts
- Any sportsperson commercially exploiting his or her image or reputation
Types of contracts concerned :
- Image and personality exploitation contracts
- Sponsorship and equipment contracts
- Sponsorship and ambassador contracts
- Commercial partnership contracts
- Licensing contracts (name, image, voice)
Situations concerned:
- Need to negotiate and draw up an image, sponsorship or partnership contract
- Non-payment of contractual royalties or fees
- Unilateral early termination of contract by partner
- Non-compliance with exclusivity clauses
- Unauthorized use of your image after termination of the contract
- Contestation of renewal or termination conditions
- Failure to meet visibility or promotional obligations
- ...
Our intervention
- ✅ Negotiation and drafting of image, sponsorship or partnership contracts
- ✅ Formal notice to the defaulting partner, including a breakdown of sums due
- ✅ Negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements
- ✅ Referral to the Judicial Court (competent for commercial disputes)
- ✅ Summary proceedings in urgent cases (damage to image, unlawful use)
- ✅ Claim for damages (loss of earnings, moral prejudice, damage to image)
- ✅ Request for cessation of unauthorized use under fine
My sponsor has terminated our contract early. What can I do?
Early termination of a sponsorship contract by your partner may give rise to a claim for damages if it is not justified by a resolutory clause or fault on your part. We analyze your contract (termination, force majeure, exclusivity clauses) and, if necessary, take legal action to obtain compensation for the damage suffered: unpaid royalties, loss of earnings over the remaining term of the contract, and possibly moral prejudice or damage to image.
My image is being used commercially without my authorization. What can I do?
Unauthorized commercial use of your image constitutes an infringement of your personal rights. We can obtain an immediate injunction to stop such use, and then take legal action to recover damages. If the use occurs after the end of a contract, we analyze the survival clauses and termination conditions to assess your rights.
webeeui-three-tiersBodies and jurisdictions in which we intervene
Cabinet Bertrand represents its clients before all courts and tribunals with jurisdiction over sports-related contractual disputes, in France and abroad.
🇫🇷 French courts
Professional league commissions :
- LFP Legal Committee (soccer)
- LNR, LNB, LNH legal committees (rugby, basketball, handball)
- League appeals commissions
Federal commissions :
- Federal Commission for Football Educators and Coaches(FFF)
- National federation legal commissions
- Regional and district commissions
Jurisdiction:Disputes between athletes/coaches and licensed clubs. Sanctions against defaulting clubs (ban on recruitment). Approval of contracts.
🌍 International bodies
FIFA Football Tribunal:
- Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC ): contractual disputes involving soccer players.
- Players' Status Chamber: contractual disputes involving soccer trainers.
- Binding decisions
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) :
- Appeals against FIFA decisions
- First instance if arbitration clause in contract
- Headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland)
- Proceedings in French or English
Jurisdiction:International disputes between foreign athletes/coaches and clubs. Also disputes between national coach/coach and his technical staff with a foreign federation. Appeals against decisions of the FIFA Football Tribunal.
⚖️ State courts
Conseil de Prud'hommes :
- First instance (summary proceedings and merits)
- All disputes relating to sports employment contracts
- Unpaid wages, terminations, reclassifications
- Dismissal, change of duties
- Wrongful termination
Court of Appeal :
- Appeals against industrial tribunal decisions
- Competent social chamber
Court of First Instance :
- Disputes over image contracts and personality rights
- Sponsoring, sponsorship and partnership disputes
- Breach of commercial contracts
- Image infringement and unauthorized use
- Recovery of royalties and fees
- Summary proceedings (urgency)
Jurisdiction:Prud'hommes: employment contracts (CDI, CDD, specific CDD). Tribunal Judiciaire: commercial contracts (image, sponsoring, partnership).
webeeui-nested-featuresWhy choose Cabinet Bertrand?
Every sports-related issue requires specific legal expertise. Identify below the situation that corresponds to your immediate needs. Our expert sports lawyers will support you with a tailor-made approach, whether your case is urgent or requires a long-term strategy.
OUR DIFFERENTIATING EXPERTISE
Our expertise in contractual litigation
An exclusive practice since 1973
Cabinet Bertrand has been practicing sports law exclusively for over 50 years. This specialization enables us to master the specific features of sports employment contracts, fixed-term contracts specific to the collective agreements of each discipline, and commercial contracts specific to the world of sport (image, sponsorship, partnership).
A proprietary jurisprudential base
Our firm has helped shape case law on the protection of athletes and trainers. As early as 1973, the Leduc v Olympique de Marseille case established that the unilateral demotion of a trainer constitutes an abusive breach of the employment contract. This established case law continues to guide the protection of trainers today.
A practice before all levels of government
We appear daily before
- Sports commissions (LFP, FFF, LNR, LNB)
- Industrial tribunals (Conseil de Prud'hommes and Cour d'Appel)
- The Court of First Instance (commercial disputes)
- FIFA Football Court
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne
Our awards
- Trophée d'Or Sommet du Droit 2024 and 2025
- Palmarès du Droit Gold Medals (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
- Incontournable" ranking - Décideurs Magazine (since 2011)
OUR DEFENSE METHODOLOGY
1. In-depth analysis of your situation
We examine your contract (employment, image, sponsorship), the circumstances of the dispute, the exchanges with your employer or partner and the available evidence. This analysis enables us to assess your chances of success and define the most appropriate strategy.
2. Choosing the right procedure
Depending on the nature of the dispute and the urgency, we determine the most effective procedure:
- Amicable negotiation and settlement agreement
- Referral to sports commissions (disputes with clubs)
- Summary proceedings (urgent cases)
- Substantive proceedings before the Labour Court or the Court of First Instance
- Proceedings before FIFA (international soccer disputes)
3. File preparation
We gather all the necessary documents: contracts, endorsements, pay slips, correspondence, testimonies, proof of breaches.
4. Representation and pleading
We represent you before all levels of court and handle the pleading of your case in French or English.
5. Enforcement of decisions
We ensure that decisions obtained are enforced and, if necessary, initiate collection proceedings.
webeeui-faqFAQ : Contracts & Salaries
My club hasn't paid my wages / salaries for several months. What can I do?
You have several options. First, we send a formal notice to your employer. If this formal notice remains without effect, we can take the matter to the Conseil de Prud'hommes (industrial tribunal) for summary proceedings to obtain prompt payment of the sums due. At the same time, we can refer the matter to the relevant legal committee (LFP for professional soccer), which can impose sanctions on the defaulting club. In the event of persistent non-payment, termination of the contract at the employer's expense may be considered.
Can I terminate my contract if my club fails to meet its obligations?
Yes, if the employer fails to meet its essential obligations (payment of wages, provision of work), the contract may be terminated at the employer's expense. In this case, the breach of contract has the effect of a dismissal without real and serious cause, entitling the employee to damages. In international soccer law (FIFA), this is referred to as "sporting just cause", allowing the player or trainer to terminate the contract. Cabinet Bertrand can help you analyze your situation and implement this procedure.
My fixed-term contract has been requalified as an open-ended contract. What are the consequences?
A sports fixed-term contract may be requalified as an open-ended contract if the strict rules governing the form of a specific fixed-term contract (article L.222-2-3 of the French Sports Code) have not been complied with: absence of a written document, missing compulsory information, incorrect duration. This requalification has a number of consequences: the contract is deemed to have been concluded for an indefinite period from the outset, the termination of the fixed-term contract becomes a dismissal, and you are entitled to the termination indemnities for an open-ended contract (notice, dismissal) as well as a requalification indemnity.
What are the time limits for taking action in the event of a contractual dispute?
Time limits vary according to the nature of the dispute:
- Unpaid wages: 3 years from the date on which the wages should have been paid.
- Breach of employment contract: 12 months from notification of breach to contest dismissal
- Requalification of fixed-term contracts: 2 years from the end of the contract
- Commercial contracts (image, sponsorship): 5 years in principle (statute of limitations under ordinary law)
- FIFA (players/coaches): generally 2 years, but specific time limits apply
We recommend that you consult us as soon as possible to avoid your rights becoming time-barred.
My sponsor or partner is not respecting our contract. Which jurisdiction should I take legal action in?
Disputes relating to image, sponsorship or partnership contracts come under the jurisdiction of the Courts (and not the Conseil de Prud'hommes, which is reserved for employment contracts). These contracts are of a commercial or civil nature, even if they concern your sporting activity.
In the event of an emergency (unauthorized use of your image, sudden termination jeopardizing your situation), we can refer the matter to the summary proceedings judge to quickly obtain a provisional decision (cessation under penalty payment, provision). On the merits, the Court will rule on the breach of contract and damages. Cabinet Bertrand assists you in these proceedings and defends your business interests.
How much does a lawyer cost for a sports contract dispute?
Fees are set freely and are subject to prior written agreement. There are several possible billing methods: time-based fees, flat-rate fees for a complete procedure, or a result-based fee supplementing the basic fee. Cabinet Bertrand offers an initial consultation to assess your situation and present you with a personalized estimate. Payment facilities can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Do you handle urgent matters (summary proceedings)?
Yes, we regularly intervene in summary proceedings before the Conseil de Prud'hommes or the Tribunal Judiciaire when the situation so requires. Summary proceedings enable you to obtain a provisional decision quickly, in particular to :
- order payment of wages that are manifestly owed
- Put an end to a manifestly illicit disturbance (dismissal, unauthorized use of image)
- Obtain an advance on sums claimed
- Put an end to an infringement of your rights, subject to a fine.
However, summary proceedings are only possible if certain conditions are met (urgency, absence of serious dispute). We analyze your situation to determine whether this procedure is appropriate.
Do you also represent professional clubs?
Cabinet Bertrand mainly represents athletes, trainers, technical staff, medical staff and administrative staff in their disputes with their employers or business partners. We do not generally represent Ligue 1 or Ligue 2 professional clubs in disputes with their employees.
On the other hand, we can act for amateur clubs or professional clubs in international inter-club disputes (transfer or training compensation) or in disputes against the federation, league or district.
My dispute concerns a foreign club. Which authority has jurisdiction?
For international soccer disputes:
- If you are a player, the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC ) has jurisdiction.
- If you are a trainer, the FIFA Players' Status Chamber is competent.
Proceedings before FIFA are free of charge. Decisions may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, which charges arbitration fees. Cabinet Bertrand will represent you before these bodies, and plead your case in French or English.