Brazilian football club Santos just got hit with a hefty bill. On Tuesday, FIFA ordered the club to pay a substantial sum to Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha, 54, and his technical staff. The total payout is set at 2.3 million euros, marking a significant win for the former manager in his dispute with the South American giants.
This binding decision from football’s global governing body comes after Santos unilaterally terminated Caixinha’s contract. That abrupt dismissal happened on April 14, following a 1-0 defeat to Fluminense. That particular match was part of the third round of the Brasileirão 2025 season.
But the story isn’t over yet. Reports from ESPN Brasil indicate that Santos plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Should the original judgment hold up, Santos faces an additional financial burden. They will have to pay an annual interest rate of 5% on the 2.3 million euros until Caixinha and his team are fully compensated. That kind of interest can quickly add up.
Caixinha’s tenure at Santos was brief, spanning just 16 matches. During his time at the helm, the team managed six wins, three draws, and seven losses. Thirteen of those games were in the Campeonato Paulista. In the Brasileirão, his squad recorded one draw against Bahia and suffered two defeats, first to Vasco da Gama and then to Fluminense.
Since his departure from Santos, the Portuguese coach has remained free in the market, awaiting his next opportunity.