The case involved a dispute between the Ukrainian Football Club Shakhtar Donetsk (“Shakhtar”) and the Spanish Club Real Zaragoza, as well as the Brazilian player Matuzalem Da Silva.
Da Silva, on loan from Zaragoza, was transferred from an Italian Club to Shakhtar in 2004. In 2007, an offer was made by an Italian club which Shakhtar rejected. Da Silva then terminated his employment with Shakhtar and signed a new contract with Zaragoza.