We Can’t Pay Gernot Rohr 157 Million Due to FIFA Decision – NFF
Amaju Pinnick, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, stated on Monday that the federation may appeal FIFA’s decision to pay former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr $377,879.46 (N156,819,975) in compensation after the two parted ways in December.
After abruptly terminating Gernot Rohr’s contract five months ago, FIFA ordered the NFF to pay him the money within 45 days.
With only a month until the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the former Bordeaux manager was handed the exit door after a disappointing performance by the Eagles.
Despite an agreement to pay his income until the conclusion of his contract, which should have expired in December 2022, Rohr, the Eagles’ longest-serving coach, went to FIFA and demanded an additional £1 million for breach of contract “without reasonable cause.”
After a FIFA tribunal ruled his claim was “partially accepted insofar as it is admissible,” the 68-year-old was awarded $377,879.46.
The FIFA players’ status chamber further stated that if Rohr was not paid in full within 45 days, the NFF would be sanctioned.
“If full payment (including all applicable interest) is not made within 45 days of notification of this decision, the respondent (the NFF) shall be imposed a restriction on receiving a percentage of development funding, up until the due amounts are paid,” said the FIFA decision.
In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Sports Extra, Pinnick responded to the judgment by suggesting that the federation might file an appeal, claiming that they had given Rohr some money before his contract was terminated.
The ruling, according to Pinnick, “is not the genuine position.”
“FIFA turned down the majority of his (Rohr’s) requests and said we should pay him $377,879.46 because we gave him six months in lieu of payment.
“We’re still discussing whether to go to CAS and request that they convert the money we paid him to the amount FIFA requires.”
FIFA’s decision to compensate Rohr comes only a week after the NFF was fined $154,000 for crowd disturbance during their World Cup play-off draw against Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja in March.
When our reporter called Rohr for comment on the matter, he did not answer, and he did not respond to a message sent to his WhatsApp account as of the time of reporting this article.
PunchNG
