Striker sued in contract dispute

A SOCCEROO is being sued by his management for more than $1.25 million for allegedly cutting them out of an $11 million deal he helped broker.

FIA Sports Management claims when Greek-born Socceroo striker Apostolos Giannou signed the deal that saw him move to Chinese Super league club Guangzhou R&F after nine years’ playing in Greece, he refused to pay its 10 per cent commission.

The three-year deal reportedly involved a $4 million transfer fee and annual player payments of $2.3 million.

In a writ filed in the Supreme Court, FIA claims Melbourne-raised Giannou, 28, signed a two-year management deal with it in September 2015. Under the deal, FIA claims it had an exclusive mandate to investigate and negotiate a permanent transfer or loan from Greek side Asteras Tripoli to clubs in Asia, with any such deal requiring its approval.

As part of its work, FIA says it took steps to increase Giannou’s exposure in the media and to the football public in Australia, Greece and Asia, and negotiated with FIFA, Football Federation Australia and Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou to let their charge play in the national team.

FIA says it also contacted many clubs, agents and intermediaries globally about a possible transfer for Giannou, and in May 2015 introduced him to the Guangzhou Football Club and gave the club a dossier on him.

As negotiations progressed, FIA claims it continued to assist Giannou (pictured), in- cluding speaking notes and organising a sponsorship offer from Nike.

In January 2016, the writ alleges FIA chief Jon Michail spoke with Asteras general manager Dimitrios Borovilos and was told not to get involved or the deal would fall through.

FIA claims it became aware the following month that Serbian agent Darko Susnjar was purporting to represent Giannou in relation to the transfer but continued to advise Giannou through a series of texts.

The writ alleges that on February 24, 2016, Giannou signed a three-year transfer deal which would pay him $2.3 million a year.

FIA alleges Giannou breached their agreement by signing the deal and by failing to pay them, which it says is evidenced by a letter from Giannou’s Greek lawyer in March last year that allegedly claims Giannou entered into negotiations with GFC himself and concluded the contract without the help of FIA. FIA is seeking unspecified damages.

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