Kuban to pay compensation to Nikezic
MOSCOW, March 28 (Reuters) - Montenegrin Nikola Nikezic, who said he was forced to end his contract with Kuban Krasnodar after being beaten up, has settled his dispute with the Russian Premier League club, the players' union chief said on Monday.
"The two sides have reached an agreement for Kuban to pay Nikezic compensation of $256,000 for the final year of his contract," Nikolai Grammatikov, secretary general for the Russian players' union (RSFT), told Reuters.
Nikezic lodged a complaint with FIFA and UEFA this month alleging that he was beaten up and threatened with a gun at Kuban's training ground, forcing him to annul the final year of his two-year deal with the club.
"I was invited into a room where I was met by two strong men," Nikezic wrote in a letter to soccer's world and European governing bodies.
"When I refused to sign, saying I still have another year on my contract, I received a powerful blow to the liver. I simply feared for my life," added the former international, who represented Serbia and Montenegro at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Grammatikov said: "I think they (Kuban) have realised it was the right thing to do and settle this case without any further complications. We could say common sense has prevailed."
Kuban officials were not available for comment but the club's general director Suren Mkrtchan was quoted as saying by Russian media that the case was being resolved.
Grammatikov said Kuban could still face sanctions by the Russian FA.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"Since the FA had already opened an inquiry into this case, they could punish the club if the allegations were found to be true," he said.
![Arne Slot head coach of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield on December 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3xTbkGtr7hRGpxxB4hofcg-840-80.jpg)
‘Slot hasn’t come in and changed everything, making it all about himself – it’s been about the players he’s inherited, getting the best out of a system he likes’: Liverpool manager impressing former players with personality and tactical approach
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on October 20, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y6uSyarD69cTjYZM7M4Z33-840-80.jpg)
‘We thought we’d signed him, but Chelsea blew us away. I think they signed him so we couldn’t have him, as much as because they really wanted him’: Liverpool actually failed to sign Mohamed Salah in 2014, three years before finally getting the Egyptian