FIFA dismisses star Vietnam keeper’s demand for compensation from Thai club

After unilaterally terminating his contract with the club on January 6, 2021, Lam had sought $53,225 from them, $50,000 arrears due from March to December 2020 and $3,225 for six days in January 2021.

But FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber has rejected the Vietnamese national goalkeeper’s demand.

It said his salary had been reduced from March 2020 but he did not file his demand until December of the same year.

The fact that he still took $11,667 a month for nine months without complaint means he had agreed to the reduction.

FIFA also rejected Muangthong’s lawsuit against Lam and his current club, Japan’s Cerezo Osaka. The Thai club had sought $300,000 from the 29-year-old for causing damage to their image and $1 million from Osaka as transfer fee for him.

FIFA dismissed Muangthong’s claims as unreasonable.

The Vietnamese-Russian keeper has returned to training with Osaka after a serious shoulder injury he suffered in October 2021. He recently extended his contract for another year.

Cerezo will begin the 2022 J. League with a match against Yokohama F. Marinos on February 19.

He is currently considered Osaka’s number two goalkeeper behind Kim Jin-hyeon, but the South Korean is already 35 years old.

Lam was the number one choice for the Vietnamese national team since 2018 until his injury last year.