Legal victory for basketball player Emir Mujkić with IA Law Firm: Qatari club obliged to pay all salaries

Former Qatar national team player and Qatar Sports Club member Emir Mujkić faced a complex legal situation where his basketball club improperly terminated his contract through WhatsApp messages, stating the contract was terminated only until the end of that season, while sending a letter to the federation to register another player. The club claimed it would continue to pay 50 percent of the salary for four months, after which the contract would resume for another three years.

Mujkić had arrived in Qatar as a teenager and obtained Qatari citizenship to play for their national team. However, he suffered from a herniated disc that was improperly treated for years with only steroids at the hospital chosen by the club, causing serious deterioration of his health. In 2023, after receiving the last dose of steroids—despite the club's doctor initially advising against it because he had already received many—his condition worsened significantly.

Doctors in Qatar later discovered an infection at an unknown site and prescribed additional medical procedures in a specialized department, but these were never carried out. The player lost trust in the Qatari medical system and was forced to return to his hometown Sarajevo to seek proper medical treatment. A doctor in Sarajevo concluded there was a high risk of severe disability if he continued playing, as previous treatments were inadequate and had caused serious damage. The player had to spend six months bedridden after returning from Qatar, with doctors constantly issuing sick leave as he was unable to perform even everyday activities or office work, losing control of his legs.

Lawyer Dino Osmanović from the law firm Ibrahimović & Co took on Mujkić's case and pursued legal action through the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal in Geneva. The legal strategy focused on proving that the club did not properly terminate the contract and that the player's departure from Qatar for medical treatment did not constitute a breach or termination of the contract.

Osmanović emphasized that every player has the right to seek a second medical opinion, to be absent for medical reasons, and to choose their own surgeon in case of surgery without any sanctions, since health is considered the highest priority for a player. The legal team also argued that every player has the right to compensation for damages resulting from a breach of contract by the other party.

The case was particularly challenging as the club engaged its basketball federation and Qatar's Ministry of Sports, whose lawyer represented them in the proceedings. Despite this institutional opposition, the legal team successfully presented evidence of the club's improper contract termination and the player's legitimate medical needs.

The Basketball Arbitral Tribunal in Geneva ruled in favor of Emir Mujkić, granting him:

- All salaries until the end of his contract
- Compensation for legal costs
- Interest on the awarded amounts

The arbitrator specifically ruled that the club did not properly terminate the contract by using WhatsApp messages and that the club's statement about continuing to pay 50 percent of salary for four months was not accepted as proper contract modification.

The tribunal also decided that the player's departure from Qatar back to Sarajevo for treatment did not constitute a breach or termination of the contract. Significantly, the player was awarded compensation despite being injured most of the time and unable to play, establishing an important precedent for player rights in cases of medical necessity.

This victory was achieved against significant institutional opposition, as the club had engaged both its basketball federation and Qatar's Ministry of Sports in the legal battle.