Lechia Gdańsk faces FIFA dispute over Alvis Jaunzems contract

Former Lechia Gdańsk player Alvis Jaunzems has taken the Polish club to FIFA following the unilateral termination of his contract. The Latvian defender is seeking several hundred thousand PLN in unpaid wages and a deferred signing bonus.

Lechia Gdańsk terminated the agreement citing a Polish Football Association (PZPN) regulation that allows clubs to end contracts without fault if a player is unable to compete due to injury or illness for more than 180 days. Jaunzems had been sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury since late September.

However, because Jaunzems is a foreign player, the dispute has been escalated to the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber. Legal experts note that FIFA regulations regarding international contracts often supersede national rules and typically do not recognize long-term injury as a valid justification for unilateral termination. Jaunzems is currently training individually and is reported to be healthy.