Your Club Has Stopped Paying You. Do Not Let Frustration Make the Next Decision.

For a professional footballer, an unpaid salary is not an abstract contractual disagreement. It may mean rent is overdue, family commitments are becoming difficult to meet and the money needed for ordinary living expenses is no longer available.

At first, the player may accept an explanation. The club promises that funds are coming. Management asks everyone to be patient. A few more days pass, then another month.

Eventually, the player begins to consider leaving.

That may be understandable, but the decision requires more care than walking out of training or announcing on social media that the contract has been terminated.

Football regulations offer protection when clubs fail to fulfil their financial obligations. They also place importance on the circumstances and procedure surrounding a player’s decision to end a contract.

A real case: Taylor Diawisie and Future FC

A useful example is the dispute between Ghanaian player Taylor Diawisie and Egyptian club Future FC.

According to FIFA’s football jurisprudence database, Diawisie claimed that the club had failed to pay agreed salaries and bonuses. After the outstanding payments were not resolved despite notices, he terminated his contract and brought a claim before FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber.

The chamber ruled in the player’s favour, awarding outstanding amounts and compensation. Future FC appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that the termination had not been justified. In 2024, CAS dismissed the appeal and confirmed the decision.

The significance of the case is not that every footballer can terminate a contract whenever payment is late. It is that contractual disputes depend on the evidence, the applicable rules and whether the correct steps were followed.

A player with a legitimate complaint still needs to protect that complaint.

What does FIFA say about unpaid salaries?

Article 14bis of FIFA’s July 2025 Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players deals specifically with termination for outstanding salaries.

Under the general rule, where a club unlawfully fails to pay at least two monthly salaries on their due dates, the player is deemed to have just cause to terminate the contract, provided the player has first put the club in default in writing and allowed it at least 15 days to fulfil its financial obligations.

There are provisions dealing with salaries that are not payable monthly, and the regulation also recognises that certain contractual provisions and valid collective bargaining arrangements may affect how the rule applies.

This is why a player should not treat an online explanation of FIFA rules as a substitute for reviewing his own contract and circumstances.

The written notice is particularly important. It establishes that the player formally notified the club of its failure to pay and gave it the required opportunity to comply.

A conversation in the dressing room, a verbal promise from a club official or a series of angry messages may not provide the protection that a properly prepared notice can offer.

Five steps to take before making a decision

1. Establish exactly what the club owes you.

Prepare a record showing the salary owed for each month, the contractual due date, any part-payments and the outstanding balance. Include bonuses or other agreed payments separately so that the amounts are not confused.

2. Gather your evidence.

Keep the signed employment contract, annexes, payslips, bank statements, payment confirmations, correspondence with the club and any written acknowledgements of the outstanding debt.

Store copies somewhere you can access even if you lose access to a club email account or device.

3. Send a formal written notice.

Follow the notification method and address stated in your contract, together with the requirements of the applicable regulations. Where Article 14bis applies, the notice must give the club at least the prescribed 15-day deadline to comply.

Be specific about the amounts and periods involved. Preserve proof that the notice was delivered.

4. Get specialist advice before terminating.

Ask a football lawyer, players’ union or other appropriately qualified adviser to review the documents before you take the final step. The adviser should confirm which regulations apply, the relevant deadlines and the proper forum for a potential claim.

Terminating without just cause can expose a player to financial consequences and, in certain circumstances, sporting sanctions. Finding another club does not automatically remove those risks.

5. Understand where your claim belongs.

FIFA’s Football Tribunal deals with disputes falling within its jurisdiction, including certain employment disputes involving an international dimension. Other cases may fall under the relevant national dispute resolution system or another competent forum.

The correct route should be established before filing a claim.

Why the paper trail matters

A player may feel that several months without pay should speak for itself. Unfortunately, a dispute is not decided solely by how unfair the circumstances appear.

A clear record of the contract, the outstanding amounts, the formal notice and the club’s response helps establish what actually happened.

It also gives both sides a clearer opportunity to resolve the matter before the situation escalates.

The same discipline applies even when the player has a good relationship with the club. Informal trust can help a relationship, but it should not replace proper documentation when contractual obligations are not being met.

The lesson for players

Professional football demands physical preparation, tactical understanding and discipline. Protecting a career also requires administrative discipline.

Read the contract before signing it. Keep records while payments are being made. When payments stop, document the problem early and seek qualified advice before taking an irreversible step.

A player should not have to choose between protecting his livelihood and protecting his contractual position. Understanding the rules helps him approach the problem with a much stronger footing.

A2Z Football Hub takeaway: Do not allow frustration to turn a potentially valid claim into a preventable contractual dispute. Document the debt, follow the required notice procedure and get advice before terminating your contract.