FC Sion Sack Nine Players For Refusing To Sign Coronavirus Pact
Switzerland Super League side FC Sion have sacked nine players who refused to sign an agreement that would have required them to take a pay cut amid the Coronavirus crisis.
Club president Christian Constantin sent the entire Sion playing body private messages on Tuesday to honour the agreement but by Wednesday most of them had failed to reply, leading to the dismissal of nine of them.
The contracts of seven of the players would have expired at the end of this season.
Former Arsenal players Alexandre Song and Johan Djourou are two of the players who have been dismissed.
The others include club captain Xavier Kouassi, former Newcastle loanee Seydou Doumbia, Ermir Lenjani, Mickael Facchinetti, Christian Zock, Pajtim Kasimi and Birama Ndoye.
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.
Over 4,800 people have tested positive for the virus in Switzerland, including the country’s football association president Dominique Blanc, while 40 deaths have been recorded.
Meanwhile the Swiss Players Union(SAFP), have protested Sion’s directive and called for the club to rescind its decision.
"You have terminated the employment contracts of the players without notice by letter dated 18 March 2020. We hereby expressly protest against this termination without notice,” a statement from the Union read.
"We therefore expect you to withdraw these abusive terminations immediately and to enter into discussions on possible alternatives."
