By Alexander Krassimirov
September 11 – Bulgarian international Valeri Bojinov and his agent Gennaro Palomba have initiated proceedings against Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. The footballer has filed a complaint to FIFA after the Portuguese club sacked him disciplinary and terminated his 3-year contract.
Sporting Lisbon released a statement saying that the contract of Bulgarian international was terminated due to “absence from work”. Bojinov’s annual salary was about €1 million.
Bojinov signed for Sporting in 2011, but never managed to become a first choice in the team. A year later he was sent on consecutive loans in Lecce, Verona and Vicenza following disagreement at the club.
“The situation with me is not good. Sporting terminated my contract and now we dispute that decision. It is not right to talk much about this case. With my agent I agreed not to comment in order to avoid speculations. Sporting can use anything I say against me. The way they acted was not correct. I still have another 3 years of my contract with the club. It is normal to fight for it,”, said Bojinov in interview with Bulgarian radio station Darik.
Sporting expressed surprise at the reaction of Bojinov and his agent. The club said the release of the Bulgarian striker is fully in accordance with all regulations.
“In relation to the player Bojinov, Sporting SAD reiterates that the player’s contract was terminated and that Sporting has honoured all of its obligations. It is with great astonishment that Sporting SAD is confronted today with a statement in the press made by Gennaro Palomba, the player’s agent, especially when considering that the player’s contract has been terminated and that the Administration of Sporting SAD accepted an invitation to a meeting on the 29th of August 2013, at which meeting no such objection was expressed. Sporting SAD will safeguard its working group, the dynamic of that group, the Club’s principles and all of its assets. Sporting SAD will not allow any of its assets to be placed in doubt”, reads the official statement from Sporting.
Recently Bojinov has been training with Lokomotiv Sofia. In his career Bojinov has played for Lecce, Fiorentina, Juventus, Manchester City, Parma, Sporting, Verona and Vicenza.
He debuted in Italian Serie A 22 January 2002, at the age of 15 years and 11 months for Lecce, becoming the youngest foreign player to make an appearance in the top level of Italian football.
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