American defender Reggie Cannon has won his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a dispute against his former club, Boavista of Portugal. The ruling overturns a previous decision by FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber and will result in Boavista owing Cannon compensation.

Cannon, now 27 and a member of the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, initially transferred to Boavista from FC Dallas in September 2020. He signed a five-year contract with annual salaries that were set to increase over the term, ranging from 175,000 euros (approximately $207,000 at the time) for the 2020-21 season to 550,000 euros (approximately $645,000 currently) for the 2024-25 season.

However, Cannon's time with Boavista was marred by alleged financial issues. He filed multiple notices of default in 2021 and 2023, claiming unpaid wages. In July 2023, a Portuguese arbitration commission sided with Cannon, determining that he had the right to terminate his contract. Cannon subsequently ended his agreement with Boavista in June 2023, citing the unpaid wages as the reason, and then signed a four-year contract with Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in September 2023.

Boavista responded by claiming breach of contract and notified QPR in December 2023 that they were owed 2,107,425 euros (approximately $2.27 million at the time). The Portuguese club then filed a complaint with FIFA, and Cannon responded with a counterclaim.

In June 2024, FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber ruled that Boavista owed Cannon 88,000 euros (approximately $94,000 at the time) plus interest. However, the FIFA panel also stated that QPR owed Boavista 1,287,000 euros (approximately $1.37 million at the time).

Cannon then appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On July 9, 2025, CAS overturned the majority of FIFA's decision. CAS annulled the FIFA ruling, except for a small portion detailing the case history. The court stated that the parties could request confidentiality regarding the decision's text, but if no such request is made, the decision will be published.

Cannon expressed his satisfaction with the CAS ruling. "The decision leaves Boavista liable for compensation," Cannon said in a statement. He also stated, "I wish my time there could have been different and didn't have to end under such circumstances". In an interview with the Associated Press, Cannon noted the extensive time and effort the case had required, including legal consultations and travel. He also voiced hope that he would receive the money owed to him, while acknowledging potential difficulties in recovering the funds. Cannon conveyed his relief and vindication, particularly for QPR, and expressed his happiness at being able to finally speak about the matter.

While the details of the compensation Boavista owes Cannon have not been fully revealed, Cannon stated that he is owed about 400,000 euros ($468,000).