Leeds United’s appeal against the £24.5million they were ordered to give Jean-Kevin Augustin in compensation has been withdrawn from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, according to reports.
Leeds were ordered to pay their former player – who signed on loan from RB Leipzig in January 2020 – a staggering £24.5m after being found to have breached his contract.
Leeds decided to appeal the decision, which was made by FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, adding another twist to the long-running saga surrounding the French forward.
However, The Athletic are now reporting that Leeds have withdrawn their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – claiming ‘that process has ended prematurely without a further ruling.’
A statement from CAS given to The Athletic read: ‘The appeal in the arbitration CAS 2023/A/9616 Leeds United v Jean-Kevin Augustin, against the decision issued on 30 March 2023 by FIFA Football Tribunal Dispute Resolution Chamber (FPSD-6567), was withdrawn.’
Leeds United ‘s appeal against the £24.5million they were ordered to give former player Jean-Kevin Augustin in compensation has been withdrawn from the Court of Arbitration for Sport
The French forward is currently playing for Swiss side, Basel (pictured on the left above)
Leeds signed Augustin on loan from RB Leipzig in January 2020, with an obligation to buy for £18m if they won promotion to the Premier League that season, which they achieved.
But the Elland Road club argued they should not have to pay the transfer fee because Augustin’s loan expired on June 30, and they went up on July 17 after the season was delayed by the Covid pandemic.
FIFA ruled in 2021 that Leeds should pay the full amount and the club lost their appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport last November. However, they eventually reached a £15.5m settlement with Leipzig.
Following that ruling, Augustin – who now plays for Swiss side Basel – took his own case against Leeds United to FIFA.
The £24.5m fee the Whites have been told to pay is understood to represent the player’s full five-year contract on wages of around £80,000 a week.
However, it remains unclear as to whether the withdrawal of Leeds United’s appeal has seen the club agree to paying Augustin the full amount awarded to him.
As it stands, Leeds are sitting third in the Championship table – one point behind Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
It remains unclear as to whether the withdrawal of Leeds United’s appeal has seen the club agree to paying Augustin the full amount awarded to him
