Cagliari President Massimo Cellino is adamant he’s right to terminate Davide Ballardini’s, while Nedo Sonetti reveals legal action over “eating a 4kg fish.”
The club caused shockwaves last week when sacking Ballardini to bring back Massimo Ficcadenti, but the split has now turned into a legal battle.
Cagliari President Massimo Cellino is adamant he’s right to terminate Davide Ballardini’s, while Nedo Sonetti reveals legal action over “eating a 4kg fish.”
The club caused shockwaves last week when sacking Ballardini to bring back Massimo Ficcadenti, but the split has now turned into a legal battle.
Rather than simply fire him – and therefore be forced to continue paying his wages – the Sardinians have started legal action claiming they have ‘just cause’ to terminate the contract.
“It’s nothing new for me, as I’ve done it before with Sonetti,” unrepentant President Cellino told Ansa.
“I couldn’t care less about Ballardini. I’m certainly not going to think about him now, when we’re practically without a stadium and stuck in a constant emergency situation.”
It’s a bitter end to the rapport, as Ballardini had already worked at Cagliari twice before in 2005 and 2007.
Meanwhile, Sonetti has been called to explain his similar situation when Cellino tried to fire him with ‘just cause.’
“I cannot explain, as it was all too ridiculous,” said Sonetti. “Cellino has fun getting on people’s nerves. He’s beyond a joke.
“One time Cellino sent a letter accusing me of having eaten a 4kg fish. I swear this is true.”
If a Coach is simply fired, then the club is committed to paying his wages for the length of the contract. If there is ‘just cause,’ meaning terms of the agreement were broken or something made it impossible for them to continue working together, then the deal can be terminated.
Renzo Ulivieri, President of the Italian Coaches Association, says “just case is only considered in extreme cases, for example a tactician who is found stealing or dealing drugs.
“Cagliari tried the same thing with Roberto Donadoni in August, claiming that after his dismissal he had gone to watch the team in the stands purely to create problems. It seems like absolute rubbish.”