The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected Pedro Pablo Pichardo's just cause claim against Benfica, but it did uphold his demand for payment of medical treatment and unpaid holiday allowances. The athlete had sought €1.1 million, arguing he had just cause to unilaterally terminate his contract. Benfica's own accusations also fell away, along with its €2 million compensation demand.
Pichardo's claim and Benfica's counterclaim
The dispute goes back to the beginning of January 2025, when the club imposed disciplinary action over missed medical examinations and an incomplete registration on the athletes' platform. That backdrop explains why the case reached CAS, but the ruling itself did not back either side all the way.
Pichardo did not get the clean legal win he was seeking. The court rejected the just cause argument, so his attempted unilateral termination was not accepted on that basis.
What the ruling did accept
Where Pichardo did succeed was on payment. CAS upheld his claim for medical treatment after a back injury, including an operation he had paid for himself, and it also ordered unpaid holiday allowances to be covered.
Benfica, meanwhile, did not get its own allegations proved. The club had been seeking €2 million in compensation, but that demand was not upheld. The club is still second in the Primeira Liga with 16 points from 7 matches, which gives the dispute a live sporting backdrop even as the legal side has now been ruled on.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
