CAS Ruling in Favor of Reggie Cannon
In a significant ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has decided in favor of Reggie Cannon, a defender for the Colorado Rapids, regarding his dispute with his previous club, Boavista. According to sources, this decision obligates Boavista to pay Cannon approximately $468,000. This outcome concludes a legal battle that has persisted over the past two years, initiated by Cannon’s claims of contract violations stemming from delayed salary payments by the Portuguese club.
Background of the Dispute
Originally, Cannon asserted that Boavista had failed to adhere to the terms of his contract, prompting him to terminate it in favor of a move to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in England’s Championship in the summer of 2023. However, Boavista disputed this termination, leading to FIFA’s involvement. In June of last year, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that Cannon had breached his contract, placing liability on both him and QPR and demanding they compensate Boavista around $1.4 million, while requiring Boavista to pay Cannon approximately $85,000 in return.
CAS Decision and Implications
Cannon contested this ruling by appealing to CAS. Reports indicate that CAS acknowledged Boavista’s consistent delays in payments to Cannon, noting that out of 29 scheduled payments, the club was late on 28 occasions, with delays ranging from five to 98 days. As a result, CAS determined Cannon was justified in terminating his contract and annulled the fine previously imposed on him and QPR.
Cannon’s Reaction
The defender expressed his relief after receiving news of the decision, stating in an exclusive conversation with ESPN, “It’s an amazing feeling. It just feels like a big wave of relief that this is officially done and dusted, and I can definitely, finally move on.” He added that it is uncommon for CAS to completely reverse a ruling, highlighting the pressure he felt due to the former decision.
Career Overview
Reggie Cannon joined Boavista from FC Dallas in 2020 and has since made 82 league appearances for the team. After a season at QPR, where he played in 21 matches, he returned to Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids. Cannon has also represented the United States national team 28 times, scoring once, with his most recent appearance occurring in 2022.
