Former Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic launched a lawsuit against the country’s football association and its president Kozo Tashima yesterday, saying he was fired illegally just two months before the World Cup. The Bosnian’s lawyer Lionel Vincent filed the suit yesterday in a Tokyo district court, court officials confirmed. Vincent has suggested that Tashima, who personally flew to France to fire Halilhodzic in April, should resign over his handling of the dismissal.
Halilhodzic is suing Tashima directly because he believes the Japanese Football Association (JFA) president had acted illegally in dismissing him without consulting the association’s board. The Tokyo District Court confirmed a civil suit was filed, with the plaintiff being Halilhodzic and defendants being the Japan Football Association and Tashima.
Halilhodzic is also demanding a personal apology from Tashima and a nominal fee of one Japanese yen ($0.009) as compensation. Vahid thought that as the JFA is a public interest organisation, asking for a huge amount of money doesn’t make sense because it is not why he is doing it.
Halilhodzic was replaced by Akira Nishino in early April after being at the helm since 2015 and successfully guiding the Samurai Blue through World Cup qualifying for the tournament in Russia. Tashima claimed at the time that the 66-year-old’s dismissal was due to his ‘lack of communication’.
Japan, led by Halilhodzic’s successor Nishino, will face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in Group H at the June-July tournament.
Atletico sign Spain holding midfielder Rodri
Atletico Madrid said yesterday they have agreed to sign Spain international Rodri from Villarreal, announcing the 21-year-old holding midfielder as their first signing ahead of next season. The 21-year-old made his Spain debut in a 1-1 draw against Germany in a friendly on March 23.
He was left out of Julen Lopetegui’s 23-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Russia but has been named in the seven-player reserve list. Rodri came through Atletico’s youth academy but finished his footballing education at Villarreal, making his Liga debut in 2016.
Napoli eyeing Balotelli after Ancelotti deal
Nice striker Mario Balotelli has been linked with a move to Napoli after Wednesday’s appointment of new coach Carlo Ancelotti. The 27-year-old’s contract with his French Ligue 1 club expires next month and he has been targeting a move away.
Italian Serie A runners-up Napoli are reported to be interested as they could lose forwards Dries Mertens and captain Marek Hamsik next season. And the club fuelled speculation by starting to follow Balotelli on Instragram.
Balotelli has often been linked with a move to southern Italy as his daughter Pia lives in Naples with his ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico. Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, French club Marseille, and Serie A outfit Roma are also said to be interested, according to reports.
Balotelli has resurrected his career since joining Nice in 2016 after less successful spells with AC Milan and Liverpool, scoring 26 goals in all competitions this season.
He received his first call up to the national side in four years by Italy coach Roberto Mancini for upcoming friendlies against Saudi Arabia, France and the Netherlands.
Bayern’s Arturo Vidal charged over nightclub brawl
German prosecutors said they had brought a charge of grievous bodily harm against Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal over a nightclub brawl last year. A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office in Munich, Florian Weinzierl, said Vidal could face a sentence of up to 10 years over the melee in a local disco last September.
Vahid Halilhodzic
