“Professional qualities” of players, coaches and termination of the just cause employment contract

The issue of contractual stability between clubs and coaches has been raised more than once in the decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, this issue is still relevant, since there are often disputes between clubs and players and coaches regarding the validity of termination of the employment contract with them. The article raises questions related to the interpretation in the practice of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport of the concepts of efficiency and productivity of players, coaches, and achieving a certain result in work. The author considers the problem of termination of employment contracts with players and coaches due to non-compliance of their professional qualities with the standards declared by clubs, and the application of sanctions to players on the basis of this. In addition, the use of the generalized term “professional qualities” in relation to such disputes is proposed and justified, and the prospects for using the CAS practice in the future are noted.