CAS rules in favor of club in Bolasie case

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued a ruling regarding Yannick Bolasie that signals a positive development for Turkish clubs struggling with financial difficulties.

According to a report by Milliyet, Yannick Bolasie, who currently plays for Swansea, had signed a three-year contract with Çaykur Rizespor. However, the annual salary specified in his contract was stated as "net." Rizespor deposited the agreed-upon amount into the player's bank account and also paid the 20 percent withholding tax. However, when Bolasie incurred penalties due to delays in his income tax filing and declaration, he demanded that the club cover these costs.

Rizespor refused to pay the tax, stating that the net salary had been deposited into the bank. The club objected, stating, "According to the Turkish Income Tax Law, individuals are responsible for paying the taxes arising from the income they earn. Football clubs are only responsible for paying withholding tax for players."

The opinion received from the tax office was as follows: "Players are solely responsible for fulfilling tax obligations such as filing declarations and paying accrued taxes; clubs are not responsible in this regard."

Bolasie, who had appealed to the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and CAS, lost the case. This decision has led to a clarification of the "net salary" concept in the football world. CAS found that depositing the net figure specified in the contract into the bank was sufficient. This decision will set a precedent for clubs and player contracts, and it brings about a situation where even if a separate figure is determined for a player's tax, this payment will be considered income and will be subject to taxation.