Djourou Sues FC Sion For Unfair Dismissal

Djourou was one of eight Sion players who were sacked last month after they failed to heed to club president Christian Constantin’s proposal to have their wages reduced in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis.

The 33-year-old joined Sion in January and played just two league games before the season halted.

Club captain Xavier Kouassi, former Newcastle loanee Seydou Doumbia, Ermir Lenjani, Mickael Facchinetti, Christian Zock, Pajtim Kasimi, Alexandre Song and Birama Ndoye also had their contracts cancelled.

Like most leagues around Europe, the Swiss Super League has been suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic since March 1 with 13 games still left to play.

'I've not pressed charges so I can get money, or return to the team. My aim is to right the wrongs of this matter in court,' Djourou told Swiss outlet Le Nouvelliste.

'My team-mates and I are not mercenaries driven by money, as some people were quick to claim after we were sacked.

'If the court finds in my favour, I will donate the money I'm awarded to charity.

'An employer cannot exploit a situation like this to impose conditions in under 24 hours.'

Djourou is the second Sion player to press charges against the club after another former Arsenal star, Song.

Over 24,500 people have tested positive for the virus in Switzerland, including the country’s football association president Dominique Blanc, while 1,001 deaths have been recorded.