Can you initiate proceedings against a new club claiming it is the sporting successor of a defunct club?

The correct approach in this scenario is to apply to submit the matter to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. When a new club is considered the sporting successor of a defunct club, it may carry liabilities, including those related to player registrations or contractual obligations. Therefore, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has the authority to adjudicate matters of disciplinary nature in football, which includes addressing issues arising from the transition of responsibilities from the defunct club to the new one.

Filing an application with the FIFA Football Tribunal or the Court of Arbitration for Sport may not be appropriate because these bodies typically handle disputes related to contractual matters or appeals against decisions rather than directly addressing claims of succession and potential disciplinary breaches. Likewise, filing a new complaint against the new club might also overlook the fact that the new entity may inherit certain responsibilities and obligations from its predecessor.

In essence, engaging the FIFA Disciplinary Committee directly addresses the governance and compliance aspect of the sport in response to the situation of sporting succession, making that route the most suitable choice.