The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has revealed the reasoning behind the ruling issued in favor of Egyptian player Mahmoud Abdel Moneim "Kahraba" against Kuwaiti club Al-Qadsiah due to the termination of the contract without just cause.
Contract Details
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim signed a contract with Al-Qadsiah on August 30, 2025, extending until May 31, 2026, or the end of the Kuwaiti season on June 1, 2026.
The contract value was $500,000, comprising a $50,000 signing bonus and $450,000 payable in ten monthly installments of $45,000 each, plus two round-trip tickets between Egypt and Kuwait.
Residency Crisis, Detention, and the Club's Stance
On November 12, 2025, Mahmoud Abdel Moneim obtained a business visit visa, but the failure to regularize his residency legally subsequently led to his detention by Kuwaiti authorities, along with demands for him to pay fines.
On January 11, 2026, the player's lawyers contacted several entities, including FIFA and FIFPro, confirming that his detention resulted from his lack of the necessary legal document to work in Kuwait, and holding Al-Qadsiah responsible for failing to regularize his status.
The following day, the player warned the club and demanded it provide the appropriate permit, accusing Al-Qadsiah of exploiting the residency crisis to pressure him into terminating his contract, and granting them a deadline until 6:00 PM to rectify the situation.
Al-Qadsiah refused to accept responsibility, stating that it had asked the player multiple times to temporarily leave Kuwait to renew his legal status, but he did not comply with the instructions. The club also considered the deadline given to be unreasonable.
On January 15, the club issued the player a new business visit visa valid until February 14, 2026, and prepared two options for his return to Kuwait. However, the player objected because it was the same type of visa that caused his crisis, demanding legal residency that would allow him to work.
Outstanding Dues and the 15-Day Warning
On January 17, 2026, Kahraba warned Al-Qadsiah regarding the failure to regularize his legal status and the delay in paying the salaries for November and December 2025, totaling $90,000, granting the club a 15-day period for payment.
Al-Qadsiah acknowledged the existence of outstanding dues but justified the non-payment citing a cash flow crisis, promising to pay by the end of the season. By the time the January salary became due, the arrears rose to $135,000.
After the deadline passed without payment, the player unilaterally terminated his contract on February 2, 2026, before filing his complaint with FIFA the following day.
Player's Contract with ENPPI
On February 8, 2026, six days after terminating his contract with Al-Qadsiah, the player signed a new contract with ENPPI club.
The ruling established that the player was entitled under his new contract to approximately $9,479.80 during the period overlapping with the remaining term of the Al-Qadsiah contract.
The Dispute Resolution Chamber took this amount into consideration as new income that contributed to mitigating the financial damage resulting from the contract termination.
Kahraba's Demands Before FIFA and Al-Qadsiah's Defense
Kahraba requested FIFA to confirm that he terminated his contract with Al-Qadsiah for just cause, and to oblige the club to pay $495,000 in compensation for breach of contract, with an annual interest rate of 5% starting from February 2, 2026.
The player also demanded the salaries for November and December 2025 and January 2026, valued at $45,000 per month, plus a $25,000 agent commission and late payment interest, in addition to imposing sporting sanctions on the club.
The total of the player's financial claims amounted to $655,000 before interest calculation, comprising $495,000 in compensation, $135,000 in overdue salaries, and $25,000 in agent commission.
In response, Al-Qadsiah requested the dismissal of the claim, arguing that the player did not meet the conditions of Article 14bis, including the existence of two overdue salaries, the issuance of a valid written warning, granting the club a period of no less than 15 days, and non-payment during that period. The club also pointed out errors in the dates and salary periods mentioned in the termination letter.
The club affirmed that termination should be a last resort, and that the residency crisis could not be conflated with the salary claim. It also requested deducting the player's income from his new contract with ENPPI from any potential compensation, and considering the termination without just cause if the conditions of Article 14bis were not proven.
Position of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
The Dispute Resolution Chamber confirmed its jurisdiction over the case, viewing it as an international dispute between an Egyptian player and a Kuwaiti club, applying the Rules of Procedure of the FIFA Tribunal issued in January 2026, and the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players issued in July 2025.
The Chamber established that the player sent a written warning to Al-Qadsiah on January 17, 2026, granting the club a period of no less than 15 days before terminating the contract on February 2.
Al-Qadsiah acknowledged the existence of overdue salaries but justified the non-payment citing a cash flow crisis, which the Chamber rejected because financial difficulties do not exempt the club from its contractual obligations.
Based on the existence of at least two overdue salaries, the written warning, and the expiration of the payment period without settling the dues, the Chamber considered that the player terminated his contract for just cause. The ruling was based primarily on the salary delays, not on the visa and detention crisis.
Final Decision
The Dispute Resolution Chamber decided that Kahraba is entitled to receive the salaries for November and December 2025 and January 2026, valued at $45,000 per month, bringing the total outstanding dues to $135,000.
It also decided to calculate an annual interest rate of 5% on each salary independently, starting from the day following its due date until the actual payment date.
Due to the absence of a specific compensation clause in the contract, the Chamber applied Article 17, calculating the remaining value of the contract from February to May 2026 as $180,000, rather than the $225,000 claimed by the player.
The Chamber took into account that the player received the equivalent of $9,479.80 from his new contract with ENPPI. It also recognized that he was initially entitled to additional compensation of $135,000 because the termination was due to overdue salaries; however, the total compensation cannot exceed the remaining value of the contract. Therefore, it set the compensation at $180,000, plus 5% annual interest from February 2, 2026.
Consequently, the Chamber obliged Al-Qadsiah to pay $315,000, comprising $135,000 in overdue salaries and $180,000 in compensation. It rejected the $25,000 agent commission due to the lack of documentation proving it, and because the player does not have the right to claim an amount belonging to a third party.
FIFA granted Al-Qadsiah 45 days from the date of notification of the ruling to make the payment. If they fail to pay, they will be banned from registering players, both domestically and internationally, until the full amount is paid.
