Sporting Lisbon have filed a complaint to FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against three of their players that terminated their contracts and signed for other teams as free agents. The Portuguese club is seeking compensation for the departed players.
A total of nine players quit Sporting after an attack by fans at their training ground in May after they failed to qualify for the Champions League on the final day of the season.
Among those was Rui Patricio, the Portuguese goalkeeper who recently joined promoted Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Portugal international winger Gelson Martins signed a six-year contract with Atletico Madrid on July 18, while his compatriot Daniel Podence joined Olympiakos FC earlier this month.
"We can confirm that Sporting filed a complaint to FIFA and CAS regarding the former Sporting players Rui Patricio, Daniel Podence and Gelson Martins and the clubs they represent at the moment," Sporting press officer Jose C Ribeiro confirmed to ESPN FC.
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Sporting did not wish to reveal the amount of compensation they are seeking but reports in Portugal claim it could be as much as €197 million. Football's world governing body FIFA, meanwhile, is not aware of any complaints filed by the Portuguese club.
When asked, a FIFA spokesperson told ESPN FC: "To date we haven't received any complaints related to these matters."
Midfielder William Carvalho, another player to terminate his contract, joined Real Betis this summer although the La Liga club reportedly paid €20m in compensation.
Bruno Fernandes also left Sporting, but the midfielder rejoined the club two months later after signing a new five-year contract.
Sporting have endured a turbulent year. In April, former Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho declared he had suspended 19 first-team players after a Europa League loss to Atletico Madrid. Fans voted De Carvalho out of the club in June with Sporting due to hold presidential elections in September.
Sinisa Mihajlovic, who was chosen by De Carvalho to coach Sporting for the upcoming season, was sacked just nine days after his appointment. He was replaced by former Sporting coach Jose Peseiro, who held the reins in 2016.