Lazio lawyers insist Vladimir Petkovic and his staff were “not truthful” and therefore deserved to be fired.
Lazio lawyers insist Vladimir Petkovic and his staff were “not truthful” and therefore deserved to be fired.
The Biancocelesti formally sacked Petkovic this afternoon for breach of contract, claiming he “violated the principle of trust that must exist between a club and its employees.”
His deal with the club was due to expire in June 2014, but on December 23 he announced that he had signed to take over as Switzerland manager from July.
“Lazio maintain they adopted the procedure based on the current rules regarding contracts of employment,” lawyer Gian Michele Gentile told Sky Sport Italia.
“We went back, contested some very specific events regarding Petkovic and his two assistant managers. They responded to our disciplinary action yesterday afternoon and the club evaluated this was the best course of action.
“The justification provided was not considered to be satisfactory or in some cases truthful. They always denied to the media and the President that they were in negotiations with the Swiss Federation. Then they signed the contract just before Christmas.
“They violated the principle of trust that must exist between a club and its employees, which is necessary in both employment and sporting contracts. We attempted to reach a mutual agreement, but it failed immediately.
“Lazio’s doors are open and we have to move forward and respect the fans. If that is not possible, then Lazio will defend themselves as they always have done and invite Petkovic to reflect on that.”
Today Lazio fired Petkovic for ‘just cause’ and appointed Edy Reja to the bench, but the Swiss tactician warned he will fight the “profoundly unjust” dismissal in court.
His lawyers insist Petkovic violated no regulations and was well within his rights to sign for Switzerland.