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Former Australian coach Farina sues ex-club
Former Australia coach Frank Farina today took his former club to court, suing Brisbane Roar for more than 325,000 dollars plus potential future losses for ending his contract.
Former Australia coach Frank Farina on Tuesday took his former club to court, suing Brisbane Roar for more than 325,000 dollars (295,995 US) plus potential future losses for ending his contract.
Farina, 45, was sacked as coach of the A-League club after he was charged by police with the drink-driving offence while on his way to club training in October.
In documents tendered to the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Farina alleges the companies behind the club significantly damaged his reputation as a coach when they ended his contract.
Farina, who was fined 500 dollars and disqualified from driving for three months after pleading guilty to the drink-driving offence, also says he learned of his sacking via a media conference with the club's chairman Chris Bombolas.
The former Socceroo wants the Roar to pay out his contract until February 2011 -- a claim of more than 275,000 dollars in gross salary, pension benefits, mobile phone expenses and the potential loss of the premiership bonus.
Farina is also suing the club for the loss of all potential future income resulting from the damage he says his reputation suffered when his contract was abruptly ended and several of the club's directors made comments to the media.
"Bombolas made public statements which were calculated to, and did, have the effect of causing statements to be widely published in the Australian and international media to the effect that the plaintiff misconducted himself in his employment," the court document reads.
"The plaintiff has a significantly diminished prospect of gaining employment as a football coach in Australia and internationally."
It was Farina's second charge of driving under the influence in two-and-a-half years, which prompted the Brisbane Roar club to replace him with Ange Postecoglou.
