Firm disputes club's claim concerning missed CAS appeal deadline
Sunderland FC has filed a £20 million legal claim against Mishcon de Reya amid accusations that the law firm failed to file an appeal in time in a case related to the signing of Inter Milan star Ricardo Alvarez in 2014.
Sunderland claim that by allegedly missing the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal deadline, Mishcon denied the club the opportunity to overturn judgements and recoup payments that had already been made, including £10 million to Inter Milan and £5.8 million to Alvarez in lost earnings following a hearing at FIFA.
The total bill, with costs, reached £20 million, the club says.
Mishcon denies the club missed the opportunity to overturn the payments because, the firm claims, the club did not have a chance of winning the appeal.
Alvarez was signed by Sunderland in 2014 on a season-long loan, but the transfer would be made permanent if Sunderland stayed up. He injured his right knee in his second appearance. As a result, he only appeared in 13 Premier League games that season.
Sunderland avoided relegation and Inter enforced the permanent transfer.
But Sunderland argued that Inter had hesitated over a knee operation Alvarez needed and claimed the Italian club were in breach of the agreement.
FIFA ruled in favour of Inter, but Sunderland decided to appealed to CAS.