Leeds United make another appeal after £24m+ settlement in legal battle
Leeds United have made a second appeal in their case involving Jean-Kevin Augustin, this time contesting the £24.4million salary settlement reached in their dispute about his 2019/20 transfer deal, according to AP News.
The U.S-based news organisation shared via their website that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has set 16 November as the date for the hearing to challenge the previous decision to award in favour of the striker.
The new claim is against the £24.4million that Leeds had been ordered to pay Augustin by FIFA in March after it was determined they were in breach of the five-year contract agreed in the 2019/20 season as was effected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leeds were ordered to pay RB Leipzig a £5.8million first instalment as part of a further £18.2million transfer deal, after losing the first CAS ruling last year [Yorkshire Evening Post, 4 November 2022], but have now returned with another appeal.
A seemingly never-ending fight
The legal battle, which has been ongoing for well over a year since their last appeal was made, continues to rumble on in the background, due to the financial implications it could have on the club under the new owners 49ers Enterprises.
In their purchase of the club over the summer, the news owners have also inherited the legal battle and will make further claims against the ruling which could see them forced to spend a further £24.4million – certainly money they would rather have on the books.
It is a complicated and drawn-out ongoing battle which continues to drag on in the background as Leeds continue their efforts to have a strong season on the pitch, and will now be a further distraction to 49ers Enterprises who will be keen to put it in the past.
The board will be hoping their legal claim is successful and will feel they have a strong basis for appeal, otherwise, they would not be wasting the time and money involved in an effort to write off the current £24.4million owed to the striker.
In other Leeds United news, Daniel Farke slammed one Leeds player for what happened against Hull.