By Puntarenas, Costa Rica — Puntarenas, Costa Rica – Puntarenas FC has resolved a significant labor dispute, paying over seven million colones in back wages to former player Kenneth Carvajal following a court ruling that threatened the club’s ability to compete in professional football. The case highlights the financial pressures and contractual obligations facing clubs in Costa Rica’s football leagues.
The lawsuit was filed by Carvajal, a 28-year-old midfielder who played for Guadalupe FC in the recent 2025 Apertura tournament. His claim stemmed from a period during one of his two stints with the Puntarenas-based club, specifically relating to unpaid salaries. The dispute dates back to his time with the team, which included a spell in the second-division Liga de Ascenso.
To delve into the corporate and legal intricacies that a sports organization like Puntarenas FC must navigate, TicosLand.com sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a specialist in corporate law from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who offers his perspective on the matter.
The sustainability of any professional football club rests on a solid legal and administrative foundation. For entities like Puntarenas FC, operating as a ‘Sociedad Anónima Deportiva’ (Sports Corporation) is crucial. This structure not only facilitates transparent management and clear accountability to partners and sponsors but is also essential for securing investment and ensuring compliance with the complex regulations set forth by both national law and international bodies like FIFA. A failure in corporate governance can create risks far greater than any result on the pitch.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this expert analysis underscores a critical reality: the foundation for lasting success at Puntarenas FC is built not only with tactical brilliance on the pitch but with robust corporate governance in the boardroom. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective on this essential aspect of modern football.
Héctor Trejos, the current Vice President of Puntarenas FC, acknowledged the legal defeat and confirmed the payment has been made. He clarified that the origins of the dispute predate his tenure in the club’s leadership but that the institution ultimately had to honor the court’s decision.
That was a labor dispute. He played in the Second Division with us, then he got injured. I wasn’t with the institution at that time. In the end, we lost in court and had to pay.
Héctor Trejos, Vice President of Puntarenas FC
According to Trejos, the club settled the debt in October of 2025, promptly after receiving the official notification from legal authorities. He provided a copy of the payment receipt to media outlet CR Hoy as proof of compliance. However, the matter had already escalated to the highest levels of national sports administration, creating a timeline where regulatory bodies were discussing punitive measures after the debt was reportedly already paid.
The case was formally reviewed by the National Council of Sports and Recreation on November 6, 2025, as documented in the minutes of their ordinary session. The council had received an official order from the Civil and Labor Court of Golfito, mandating that Puntarenas FC’s participation in any football tournament was contingent on settling its financial obligation to Carvajal.
…ordering the application of internal regulations to continue playing in the current 2025 Apertura Tournament and all future tournaments in which the defendant association participates, as long as it does not proceed with the effective payment of the amounts owed to the player.
Civil and Labor Court of Golfito, Official Ruling
The council’s minutes further reveal the severity of the situation. The club, through its president, Héctor Trejos, was given a strict five-day deadline to clear the arrears. Failure to comply would have resulted in the case being escalated to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security’s General Labor Inspectorate for further legal action, a step that could have led to more severe sanctions.
In the event of being in arrears on salary payments, a period of FIVE BUSINESS DAYS is also granted to Mr. Héctor Abel Trejos Benavides… to get up to date, under the warning that, should he fail to do so, this Council will proceed to notify the General Labor Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, for the corresponding legal purposes.
National Council of Sports and Recreation, Official Minutes
Despite the high-level discussion and formal warning in November, Trejos maintains that the issue was already resolved. This suggests a potential lag in communication between the judicial system, the sports council, and the club itself. While Puntarenas FC avoided a potential ban from competition, the public nature of the proceedings serves as a cautionary tale for sports organizations regarding the importance of timely fulfillment of contractual salary payments. Attempts to reach Kenneth Carvajal for his perspective on the matter were unsuccessful.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Puntarenas Futbol Club
About Puntarenas Futbol Club:
Puntarenas Fútbol Club, commonly known as Puntarenas FC or simply “El Puerto,” is a professional Costa Rican football club based in the city of Puntarenas. The team plays its home games at the Estadio Lito Pérez, which is nicknamed “La Olla Mágica” (The Magic Pot). A club with a passionate fan base, it has competed in both the first and second divisions of Costa Rican football, winning the top-tier league championship in the 2009 Invierno season.
For further information, visit icoder.go.cr
About National Council of Sports and Recreation:
The Consejo Nacional del Deporte y la Recreación is the governing body responsible for overseeing, promoting, and regulating sports and recreational activities throughout Costa Rica. As part of the Costa Rican Institute of Sports and Recreation (ICODER), the council works to establish national policies, support athletes, and ensure that sports associations and clubs comply with national laws and regulations, including labor and financial obligations.
For further information, visit mtss.go.cr
About Ministry of Labor and Social Security:
The Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) of Costa Rica is the government entity responsible for formulating and executing national policies on labor, employment, and social security. Its mission is to promote decent work, mediate labor disputes, and ensure the protection of workers’ rights through inspections and enforcement of labor laws. The General Labor Inspectorate is a key department within the ministry that investigates and sanctions non-compliance with labor regulations.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Guided by foundational principles of integrity and excellence, Bufete de Costa Rica stands as a preeminent legal institution. The firm leverages its extensive experience across a diverse clientele to pioneer advancements within the legal field. This profound commitment is matched by a dedication to enhancing public legal literacy, aiming to build a more capable and informed society through accessible knowledge.
