CAS Orders Dani Alves to Pay $5 Million to Pumas in Contract Dispute

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled in favor of Mexican club Pumas UNAM in the legal dispute with Brazilian footballer Dani Alves, ordering him to pay multi-million dollar compensation for breach of contract. The case originated in 2023 when Alves was arrested in Spain for sexual assault allegations, preventing him from fulfilling his contract obligations with Pumas, which led the club to terminate his contract citing a public scandal clause. Initially, FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber had ruled Alves owed a much smaller amount, but CAS overturned this decision, confirming the contract termination was justified and increasing the compensation owed to around $5 million. The ruling is seen as a significant legal victory for Pumas, reinforcing the enforcement of penalty clauses in contracts with elite players and compensating the club for damages related to Alves' abrupt exit. Alves had briefly played for Pumas in 2022 but his off-field issues overshadowed his contributions on the field. This case highlights the complexities of contractual disputes in professional sports and sets a precedent within Liga MX for similar situations.