Rio Football Services Hungary Kft v Sevilla Futbal Club Sad: QBD 6 Oct 2010

The defendant sought leave to appeal against summary judgment on several elements of a claim under a football player financing agreement, arguing that the claims were made under a penalty provision, and otherwise. It was also said that the agreements amounted to an enslavement of the player.
Held: Leave was refused. Whilst the literal meaning of the contract might be absurd it could be interpreted without difficulty to provide a commercial result: ‘if a literal reading of the language of a contract leads to an absurd result, and one which reflects an intention which the parties could never have had, the law does not require a court to attribute to the parties such an intention.’ The contract imposed no constraints on the options of the player.

Judges:

Edwards-Stuart J

Citations:

[2010] EWHC 2446 (QB)

Links:

Bailii

Citing:

CitedAntaios Compania Naviera SA v Salen Rederierna AB (‘the Antaios’) HL 1984
A ship charterer discovered that the bills of lading were incorrect, but delayed withdrawal from the charter for 13 days. They now sought leave to appeal the arbitration award against them.
Held: Though he deprecated extending the use of the . .
CitedInvestors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society HL 19-Jun-1997
Account taken of circumstances wihout ambiguity
The respondent gave advice on home income plans. The individual claimants had assigned their initial claims to the scheme, but later sought also to have their mortgages in favour of the respondent set aside.
Held: Investors having once . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Banking, Contract

Updated: 25 August 2022; Ref: scu.424948