Vahid sues JFA — for one yen

TOKYO: Lawyers for sacked Japan football coach Vahid Halilhodzic filed a legal claim against his former employers on Thursday claiming “damage to reputation and honour” and seeking compensation — of one yen.

The Franco-Bosnian was unceremoniously given the boot by the Japan Football Association (JFA) last month, prompting an angry backlash from his legal team, who slammed the decision as a “brutal” case of wrongful dismissal.

Attorney Lionel Vincent has demanded an explanation and apology, accusing JFA president Kozo Tashima of summarily firing the former Algeria coach — just two months before the World Cup — without consulting board members.“It’s not about money for Vahid,” Vincent told AFP. “He got Japan to the World Cup and he doesn’t want to be the black sheep who looks stupid. He’s deeply hurt and feels betrayed.”

“President Tashima acted in violation of the JFA’s governance rules, so we are seeking a formal apology.” But rather than seek a big payout, Halilhodzic’s lawsuit calls for compensation of a symbolic one yen (less than one US cent). Halilhodzic, who was appointed Japan coach in March 2015, was axed after a string of lacklustre performances, with the JFA appointing former technical director Akira Nishino as his replacement.

“I had no choice but to instruct my lawyers to go to court after the unacceptable comments by President Tashima,” the former coach said in a written statement.“It is not just my honour that is at stake but my more than three years of work with the players and fans that was tarnished,” he added. The legal wrangling will do little to help Japan’s preparations just weeks before the start of the World Cup in Russia. Halilhodzic flew back to Tokyo to hold an emotional press conference following his dismissal, blasting Tashima for a “lack of respect”.

In an interview with AFP at the time, the 66-year-old said: “I don’t want to leave the country as a mess, as an incompetent.” Tashima had blamed the sudden sacking on a breakdown in communication between Halilhodzic and key players, a charge the ex-coach angrily rejected.