Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has delivered a verdict favouring Sevilla in the case of the dismissal of defender Joris Gnagnon.
CAS concluded that Sevilla had valid grounds to terminate Gnagnon’s contract and has instructed the player to cover the costs of the proceedings.
Sevilla confirmed this outcome to ESPN on Thursday.
The French center-back was let go by Sevilla in September 2021 due to persistent concerns regarding the player’s professionalism and physical condition.
The grounds raised by Sevilla to justify Gnagnon’s termination were “the player’s alleged overweight situation and his multiple delays to training sessions.”
Gnagnon, whose contract with Sevilla was set to expire in June 2023, sought redress from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for what he deemed an unlawful dismissal, seeking millions of euros in compensation.
Initially appealing to FIFA, Gnagnon’s claim was rejected as “inadmissible” because he had already initiated a labour dispute in a Spanish court. However, the Spanish court closed his case as he failed to attend the mandatory hearing.
The player, who joined Sevilla in the summer of 2018 in a €13.5 million ($14.7 million) transfer from Rennes, had a minimal impact, making just seven LaLiga appearances in three years.
The verdict highlighted that the club’s expectations regarding the player’s weight parameters were reasonable. Despite Sevilla’s efforts to assist and numerous warnings, Gnagnon did not comply with the club’s guidelines. Various medical check-ups confirmed the player’s overweight condition.
Since leaving St Etienne in May 2022, the 27-year-old Gnagnon has been without a club. He joined the French side as a free agent four months after his dismissal from Sevilla.