Premier League shaken with “beating” scandal

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Published time: March 15, 2011 17:06
Edited time: March 15, 2011 20:16

The new Russian Premier League season had just begun when a scandal emerged. A former Kuban Montenegrin striker says he was beaten into terminating his contract.

Nikola Nikezic has written to UEFA and FIFA claiming he was beaten on March 7 by two men in an office at the club's headquarters in Krasnodar in southern Russia.

The men were allegedly forcing the player, who fell out of favor with his club, to sign a contract termination, which he did, as he says, out of fear for his life. Nikezic added the duo had guns and threatened to “make him an invalid”.

The 29-year-old forward claims he was told he was not wanted at Kuban, which began its league season on Sunday with a 2-0 home loss to Rubin Kazan.

A copy of the letter was posted on Tuesday on the website of the union of Russian footballers and coaches, along with a video message by Nikezic.

Head of the Russian Football Union’s ethics committee, Alu Alkhanov, stated Tuesday that if the allegations are proven “all guilty persons will be punished”.

Meanwhile, Kuban spokesman has said the club is planning to sue the player for defamation.