Egyptian champions Al Ahly have confirmed they will lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following a FIFA ruling ordering the club to pay former head coach José Riveiro US$588,000 in compensation.
The decision, issued by FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber, grants Riveiro full contractual compensation after his dismissal last year, including a three-month penalty clause embedded in his agreement.
Al Ahly maintain that the ruling is not final and intend to challenge it within the prescribed legal framework. The club has up to three weeks from receipt of the detailed judgment to formally submit their appeal to CAS.
Club legal advisor Abdullah Shehata reiterated the hierarchy of football’s dispute resolution system, stating that further litigation stages remain available and that the club will proceed in accordance with established procedures.
The case underscores the increasingly structured contractual enforcement environment within global football, where termination clauses and compensation mechanisms are regularly upheld by FIFA bodies unless procedural or substantive errors are demonstrated on appeal.
Riveiro departed Orlando Pirates with four matches remaining in the 2024/25 season to assume control at Al Ahly. He made his debut with the Cairo-based side at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June.
Across a 94-day spell, the Spanish-born coach oversaw seven matches spanning domestic competition and the Club World Cup, recording one victory, four draws and two defeats. Despite the limited sample size, the contractual terms reportedly entitled him to full compensation in the event of early termination.
His tenure ended after three months, with Danish manager Jess Thorup appointed as his successor.
In January, Swedish side AIK confirmed Riveiro’s appointment on a three-year contract, signalling a swift return to management despite the ongoing legal proceedings.
The outcome of Al Ahly’s appeal to CAS will determine whether the compensation figure stands or is amended, but until then, the FIFA ruling remains enforceable pending further adjudication.
