Saudi Al-Ahli Could Face Nearly 50 Million Riyals to Terminate Marino Pušić’s Contract
Legal adviser Ahmed Al-Sheikhi said Saudi Al-Ahli’s contract with coach Marino Pušić could make a termination costly, estimating the cost at around 50 million riyals. He said the two-year agreement includes guaranteed financial entitlements, with no clear early-exit mechanism to protect the club.
Legal adviser Ahmed Al-Sheikhi said Saudi Al-Ahli’s contract with coach Marino Pušić could make termination costly, estimating the cost at around 50 million riyals. He explained that the agreement runs for two years and includes guaranteed financial entitlements, with no clear early-exit mechanism to protect the club.
According to Al-Sheikhi, the contract does not include a reduced penalty clause allowing Al-Ahli to terminate it for three or six months’ salary, making settlement of the remaining entitlements a challenge for the management. He added that the club can appoint a new coach before reaching a settlement with Pušić.
Al-Sheikhi noted that if the coach rejects a settlement, the matter could be referred to FIFA, and said that disputes over coaches’ contracts do not lead to a registration ban. He also ruled out active financial monitoring of Al-Ahli, reasoning that it is one of the least-spending major clubs and is supposed to have a surplus from the support available.
Al-Ahli signed Pušić at the start of the current season, replacing German coach Matthias Jaissle, according to the source. The cost of terminating the contract, in Al-Sheikhi’s estimate, puts the club’s desire to change coaches up against a financial and legal challenge.