Spartans reveal details on Comvalius case

Details about Ħamrun Spartans's successful appeal over FIFA’s decision to pay compensation over the signing of Dutch forward Sylvano Comvalius in 2009 were given to the media this morning.

Dr Chris Bonett, the Malta FA lawyer who represented the Spartans during this case, said that the testimony presented by Comvalius was crucial so that Ħamrun could successful annul the decision taken by FIFA which would have seen them pay over €230,000 in compensation to Dutch clubs Amsterdam FC, Almere City FC and Club Quick Boys.

“Sylvano’s statement was crucial for the successful appeal of the case,” Bonett said yesterday.

“When he joined Ħamrun in 2009 he immediately informed the club that he had signed a professional contract with his previous club Club Quick Boys and he reaffirmed that fact during his testimony in the appeal which eventually proved decisive for us to win the case.”

Bonett said that Club Quick Boys had reluctantly admitted that they had offered an employment contract to Comvalius but argued that since they were an amateur club they could not submit a professional contract to the Dutch Football Association.

“However, FIFA rules state that if the player’s expenses to play for the club do not exceed his earnings the players’s status is still considered as professional therefore Comvalius signed his first professional contract with Quick Boys and not Ħamrun Spartans and the FIFA decision was subsequently annulled.”

Bonett praised Swiss lawyer Volker Hesse who represented the Spartans in front of the CAS court and also had words of praise for the dedication shown by Victor Cassar, Paul Borg and Joe Borg during the case.

On his part, Cassar thanked Dr Bonett and the Malta FA’s top brass for their constant support during the case and said that he hoped that the club will now be able to embark on new initiatives to strenghten the club’s status.