FIFA ordered Venezuela to pay almost $3 million to José Pekerman after a lawsuit from the Argentine coach for “non-compliance” with the agreement to terminate his contract as Vinotinto coach, according to a document known this Thursday by AFP.
The Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) “has to pay” Pekerman $1.71 million for “remuneration owed”, plus 5% annual interest from August 23, 2023 until the time the debt is settled, and $1.14 million for “penalty”, according to the decision of the FIFA Football Courtdated last November 6.
“Any other claim by the plaintiff is rejected”add the document.
Pekerman, 74 years old, he stopped being coach of the Venezuelan national team in March 2023, just before the start of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, after a cycle that barely lasted 15 months.
Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batistawho was his field assistant in the Venezuelan team, took his place.
The AFP He tried to communicate, without success, with FVF spokespersons.
Pekerman He had taken office in November 2021 with a promise to lead a restructuring of football in the only South American country that has never qualified for the World Cup.
His predecessor, the Portuguese Jose Peseiro, resigned from Vinotinto denouncing a 14-month salary debt that was later settled. The store Leo Gonzalez was interim after the European left.
Press reports in Venezuela indicated that the breakup of the FVF and Pekerman had come after “irregularities” in the management of Pascual Lezcano, the coach’s right-hand man, which would have been detected in an audit.
The FVF He never publicly confirmed those versions.
Pekerman He led his native Argentina in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and Colombia in Brazil-2014 and Russia-2018 and had previously been a three-time U-20 world champion leading the Albiceleste team in 1995, 1997 and 2001.
Source: Ambito
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