Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves has been ordered to pay Mexican club Pumas £1.7 million ($2.3m) in compensation after losing a lengthy legal battle over his contract termination. The Swiss Federal Supreme Court upheld a previous Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in favour of the Liga MX outfit, who sacked the Brazilian in the wake of his January 2023 arrest.
Swiss court upholds ruling
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court has dismissed the former defender's appeal, upholding a previous ruling issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). According to a report by ESPN Brazil, the legally binding June 11 decision orders the Brazilian to pay £1.7 million ($2.3m) in compensation to Pumas UNAM. The verdict brings an end to a protracted legal dispute triggered by the termination of his contract in January 2023.
Financial battle reaches climax
Pumas initially sought $5m in compensation alongside an additional $1m for image rights already disbursed to the player. The Mexican club based their claim on a breach-of-contract clause following Alves's arrest in Barcelona on sexual assault charges. While FIFA's Football Tribunal initially threw out the claim, Pumas successfully appealed to CAS before securing a final victory in Switzerland's highest court.
Court expenses mount up
On top of the multi-million-dollar penalty, the 43-year-old former right-back must cover 17,000 Swiss francs in legal costs and a further 19,000 Swiss francs in procedural expenses. Alves previously served 14 months in prison before being released in March 2025 after a Spanish court overturned his conviction. The legal triumph marks a significant victory for Pumas in enforcing disciplinary terms within player contracts.