FAT 0032/09 (Dixon, Fox v/ Zhe Jian Guan Sha BC)

Follow up: 23 sep 09
Following FIBA’s intervention, the club Zhe Jian Guan Sha BC honoured the FAT award and paid the adjudicated amounts to the claimants.

Summary of the case:
The American player Nigel Dixon and the player’s agent Larry Fox filed a claim against the Chinese club Zhe Jiang Guang Sha for outstanding salaries and agent's fees.

The player requested full payment of his salaries and other expenses for the entire 2008/2009 season, alleging that the club terminated the contract without just cause. In its answer, the club denied the above claims submitting that the relationship between the parties was governed by the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) contract.

On the basis of such contract, the club was entitled to dismiss the player because of his poor performance and all disputes arising between the parties should be referred to the CBA tribunal.

Also, the club submitted that the contract produced by the claimants was not valid because at the time of signing the player was not a free agent. The Arbitrator decided to uphold the claim in its entirety.