WILLEMSTAD - Curaçaoan football club Hubentut Fortuna has exhausted all appeal options within the Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) and must now take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.

The FFK Appeals Committee ruled that it has no jurisdiction to handle the club’s appeal, stating that disputes of this nature fall exclusively under the competence of the international sports tribunal CAS.

Dispute Over Player Eligibility

The case centers on player Thom Derks, who participated in a December 2022 match between Hubentut Fortuna and Atletiko Saliña. Fortuna later challenged Derks’ eligibility to play, arguing that the match results involving him should be annulled.

In September, however, the FFK ruled that all match results in which Derks participated would remain valid, effectively rejecting Fortuna’s complaint. With the Appeals Committee now declaring itself incompetent, the club has no remaining recourse at the local level.

End of a Long-Running Dispute

The October 4 ruling marks a turning point in a conflict that has divided Curaçao’s football community for nearly three years. The dispute has also contributed to significant delays in resuming league competition on the island.

From now on, clubs dissatisfied with FFK decisions will have to bring their cases directly to the CAS, which serves as the final authority for resolving international sports disputes.

For Hubentut Fortuna, the long-running legal battle now moves beyond Curaçao’s borders — to the highest court in global sports arbitration.

Thom Derks Photo credit: kingstalent.com