World governing body FIFA has ordered the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to pay former coach Aljosa Asanovic $1.1m for wrongful dismissal.
FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga confirmed FIFA had already notified the association of the decision of the matter presided over by a single judge. “We wish to confirm that FIFA has informed FAZ of its decision to award damages to Aljosa Asanovic who reported the association to FIFA after having abandoned his post in unclear circumstances,” said Kamanga.
He added: “FAZ duly submitted its records of having paid Asanovic his dues up to the point of his desertion. We attached all the evidence of payment in our counterclaim, and it remains our hope that justice will be done. Asanovic was appointed under Zambian laws and was deemed to have deserted after having absconded from work for more than 10 days in line with the law. Additionally, his contract was performance-based tied to qualification to the CHAN, AFCON, and FIFA World Cup.”
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Meanwhile, Kamanga further said FAZ was engaging FIFA on the way forward to ensure that justice prevails on the matter. “FAZ has engaged FIFA on the matter and will be exploring various ways to ensure that the decision is reversed as FAZ had met all its obligations to Asanovic,” added Kamanga.
FAZ appointed Asanovic on January 18, 2022, but the Croatian unilaterally terminated his contract on September 22, 2022, after having abandoned his station on September 30 in the aftermath of Zambia losing 1-0 at home to Mozambique to be dumped out of the African Nations Championship campaign.