The Players’ Status Chamber of the FIFA Football Tribunal (“the FIFA Tribunal”) has handed down its decision in Koopman v Football Association of Maldives, entering judgment in favour of the Dutch football coach Martin Koopman in his financial claim against his former employer (“FAM”). Ashley Cukier represented Mr Koopman in the FIFA proceedings.
The decision of the FIFA Tribunal in Koopman comes shortly after the FIFA Tribunal’s recent decision in Hiddink v FAM (in which proceedings Ashley also represented the successful claimant). Further detail on that decision, important in its restatement and application of FIFA’s policy in respect of Covid-19, and the interaction of that policy with force majeure provisions in football contracts, can be found here.
Ashley Cukier acted as Counsel for Mr Koopman in the FIFA Proceedings, instructed by David Winnie, Head of Sport at Blaser Mills Law. Ashley’s sports practice is focused particularly on contractual and regulatory disputes, especially in a footballing context where, over the past year, he has appeared in and presided over a number of FA Rule K arbitrations, FIFA Football Tribunal claims and EFL proceedings. He is ranked by both Legal500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading Sports Law junior.
