Can a Club Deduct Fines From an Athlete's Wages? Disciplinary Fines, Right of Defence and Wage Deductions

Professional athletes often face fines imposed by clubs and deducted from their wages. This article summarises, in general terms, the conditions under which club disciplinary fines and wage deductions may be valid. It is general information, does not replace an assessment of your case and predicts no result. For collecting unpaid wages, see our article on athletes' wage claims.

1. Why it matters

A club may reduce the wage payable by setting off a fine imposed on the athlete. If a court accepts that the fine was invalid, the deducted amount can be claimed as a wage receivable, so whether a fine was imposed in accordance with procedure and content directly affects the amount of the claim.

2. Example from a Court of Cassation decision

In its decision of 7 June 2023 (2023/4495, 2023/8758), the 9th Civil Chamber examined penalty-like wage deductions made by a club from a professional volleyball player's wages and upheld the regional court's decision. The regional court decision noted:

• Acceptance: although the athlete's signature appeared on the federation's award, penalty and discipline instruction, it contained no statement that she accepted it.
• Right of defence: the athlete's defence had not been taken before the fine was imposed, so the fine was unlawful.
• Compliance with the instruction: the instruction provided a certain percentage fine for the third violation, but the same percentage was imposed for the second, so the fine was unlawful.
• Removal from the squad: an athlete removed from the squad cannot be required to obtain permission to leave the city, so a fine for leaving without permission was unlawful.
• Proof of payment: the club had not proved that the rest of the wage, apart from a set-off for a traffic fine, had been paid.

Having examined the grounds of appeal, the Court of Cassation found the regional court's decision in accordance with procedure and law and upheld it.

3. The club's internal disciplinary regulation

In an earlier reversal reasoning mentioned in a 3rd Civil Chamber decision (2024/905, 2025/1277), it was stated that, for fines imposed on footballers under an internal disciplinary regulation issued by clubs in accordance with the instructions to be valid and applicable, the procedural steps required must be determined and the fines examined for appropriateness and compliance with the club's internal regulation.

4. Points to check

• What was the instruction or internal regulation the fine relied on, and did the athlete accept it?
• Was a defence taken before the fine?
• Does the fine comply with the instruction's rate and sequence rules?
• Was it communicated in writing when and why the amount was deducted from wages?
• Can the payment of the remaining wage be proven by bank records?

5. Practical tips

• Keep the fine decisions, notifications, and correspondence on defence requests.
• Collect payment receipts and payslips showing the deductions.
• Obtain the relevant provisions of federation and club instructions.
• Seek legal advice without delay about objection routes and time limits.

To have your file assessed with its documents, you can create an appointment or reach us via the contact page.

This article is for general information only, contains no promise of results and is not legal advice. The decisions mentioned are examples only.