PSV slam Sevilla for failure to pay Kone fee
PSV have declared that Sevilla are deliberately avoiding payment for the remainder of Arouna Kone's transfer in 2007 following the striker's move to Levante this week.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
The forward finished his contract with the Andalucian side and has joined Levante with whom he had earlier spent a season on loan. According to PSV, Sevilla had agreed to pay a sum of €2 million following the sale or termination of the player's contract but the La Liga side is refusing to pay the necessary amount.
Kone, who joined Levante after the expiry of his contract, endured a torrid time with Sevilla. In four seasons at the club, he managed to score just one league goal from 41 appearances.
With the Valencia-based club, however, he rediscovered his goalscoring touch as he scored 17 goals from 34 appearances in his season-long loan.
PSV CEO Justin Sanders made a stern statement denouncing Sevilla's behaviour with regards to the Ivorian's transfer as well as the lackadaisical approach towards contract adherence in Spanish football. The Dutch club has sold a number of players to La Liga sides in recent seasons with Barcelona's Ibrahim Afellay being their most famous export.
"Sevilla FC should pay PSV €2,000,000 - because of a contractual obligation about Arouna Koné, dated August 29th, 2007, which reads: 'In case the player is transferred to a third club or upon termination of his contract (for whatever reason) Sevilla FC will always pay €2,000,000 - to PSV'" stated Sanders.
"There can be no multi-interpretation of this clause, Sevilla Football Club SAD should simply pay."
He also believes that Spanish clubs, in general, have always avoided carrying out business with other European clubs in a smooth manner as the legal structure allows them to defer their obligations.
He called on Sevilla to accept mediation on the matter and not utilise bankruptcy clauses to put off paying their debts.
"It has been already extremely strange that Spanish clubs can continue to buy players and pay high salaries whilst not paying their creditors because of an administrative Spanish bankruptcy clause (‘concurso')".
"Sevilla FC has added a new Spanish episode by simply refusing to pay a contractual obligation and also refusing mediation from the ECA (European Club Association).
"The FIFA procedures to settle disputes are lengthy and it looks as if some Spanish clubs, like Sevilla FC, are misusing the extra time to spend their money differently and maybe going into administrative bankruptcy in the future to protect them from paying the bills."
Sevilla ended last season in ninth place while Levante had one of their best seasons ever as they finished in sixth place and qualified for the Europa League for the first time in their history.