A motion has been accepted to impose a near €1 million (Dh4.5m) block on UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni’s wages, as a dispute between the Italian and a prominent football agent looks set to be resolved in the courtroom in Italy.
Zaccheroni, 64, signed a deal in October until the end of January 2019’s Asian Cup worth €3.6m (Dh16.2m). A disagreement has broken out about the payment of commission earned from the move, which sees the Italian pitted against Pedro Pinto – a representative from Porto whose clients include Paris Saint-Germain’s Unai Emery, Swansea’s Carlos Carvalhal and Espanyol’s Quique Sanchez Flores.
But Zaccheroni and his legal team insist Dubai-based, Iraqi agent Najim Mohammed of Hattrick Sports Services was solely responsible for concluding talks with the UAE Football Association – thus making him the only person eligible for compensation.
A motion to begin civil proceedings about the matter was filed in the first week of February, with leading members of the Emirates governing body asked to travel by the plaintiff – Pinto – and provide evidence. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing in regards to the UAE FA representatives.
A judge in Italy also accepted a request this week to ensure the disputed amount of €975,000 (Dh4.4m) would be taken from Zaccheroni’s remuneration and placed into a holding account controlled by the Italian courts until a decision is reached on the case.
“In September 2017, Mr Zaccheroni sent me a letter of interest to be UAE national team head coach,” said Pinto, whose claim totals compensation and damages suffered.
“Subsequently and still in September, he gave me an exclusive mandate to negotiate the post.”
Mr Pinto claims Mr Zaccheroni ignored signed documents and closed the deal without him. Pinto says he tried to reach Zaccheroni’s lawyer but without success and then raised the lawsuit in Italy.
Alberto Zaccheroni (r) and Marwan bin Ghalita at the former’s unveiling as UAE coach in October.
This position is explicitly rejected by Zaccheroni’s legal representative – who has until the end of May to submit a reply to the writ of summons – Luca Ferrari, head of sports for Withers LLP law firm.
He said: “Unfortunately it is not unusual to have to deal with unwarranted claims in football but any claimant would be well offside here, because the whole transaction has been straightforwardly handled with the UAE FA.”
The UAE FA has not commented on the matter.
Pinto has insisted that an exclusive mandate signed on September 28 by the ex-AC Milan, Juventus and Japan tactician contracted him to handle negotiations with the Emirati governing body to be the replacement for Edgardo Bauza, after his defection to Saudi Arabia. UAE-based businessman Karim Mubaret would later be involved.
A letter of notification about the civil proceedings was sent out to Zaccheroni’s representative on February 6.
Correspondence has been ongoing in recent weeks between the two parties.
Zaccheroni has been tasked with making the final of next year’s Asian Cup, on home soil.
His tenure has included a miserly performance at the Gulf Cup, where one goal was scored on the way to shock defeat in a penalty shootout to minnows Oman during January 5’s final in Kuwait City.
