Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Former CSKA Moscow football coach Vladimir Fedotov has secured a significant financial victory against his old club, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that the Russian Premier League side must pay him €630,704.76 in compensation for the early termination of his contract.
The decision, announced on September 30, 2025, partially upholds an appeal lodged by Fedotov after his initial claim was largely dismissed by the Russian Football Union’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (RFU DRC).
Contract Clause at the Center of Dispute
CSKA Moscow informed Fedotov of the termination of his employment on June 3, 2024, cutting short a contract that was set to run until May 30, 2025.
Fedotov initially sought compensation equivalent to his remaining one-year salary, totaling €2,120,016, arguing the termination was made without just cause. CSKA, however, contended that this figure did not align with the terms set out in the employment agreement.
The subsequent ruling by the RFU DRC on August 6, 2024, did little to satisfy the coach, only obliging the club to provide him with documents related to his work.
Fedotov escalated the matter, filing an appeal with CAS on September 23, 2024, to overturn the RFU DRC decision and compel CSKA to pay his requested sum.
A remote hearing before a CAS Panel was held on March 7, 2025.
CAS Panel Cites Termination Clause
The CAS Panel determined that while the club was within its rights to end the contract early—a condition set out in a specific clause—the same clause required a financial settlement.
The Panel found that the contract granted the right to an early termination conditional on the initiating party paying no less than 30% of the remaining remuneration.
Consequently, CAS upheld the appeal in part, deciding that CSKA Moscow is obliged to pay the coach a compensation figure calculated at 30% of the total remaining salary claim (€2,120,016), which amounts to €630,704.76, plus interest.
The decision is a major win for Fedotov, reversing the RFU DRC’s finding and securing a substantial six-figure payout against his former employer. A full award with grounds will be published on the CAS website unless the parties request confidentiality.
