AC Milan Youngster Leao Ordered To Pay Former Club €16.5 Million In Compensation

AC Milan striker Rafael Leao has been ordered to pay 16.5 million euros to his former club Sporting Clube de Portugal in compensation. The striker reportedly broke off his contract illegally after the players were attacked by fans at the training facility in 2018. The player transferred to Lille in France that summer and subsequently Milan and Sporting feel they missed out on transfer fees. The club had requested damages of 45 million but FIFA rejected the request. Leao terminated his contract citing fear for his own safety after the attack.

Sporting Lisbon confirmed on their site via Sempre Milan, “Sporting Lisbon informs, pursuant to and for the purposes of compliance with the information obligation deriving from Article 248-A of the Portuguese Securities Code, that it has been informed of the decision issued by the Sports Referee Court in the context of of the action proposed by the player Rafael Leao, who considers the action partially valid, ordering Sporting SAD to pay the player, by way of compensation for the practice of moral harassment, the amount of €40,000.00 (forty thousand euros), in addition to considering the counterclaim partially valid, ordering the player to pay Sporting SAD for an amount of €16,500,000.00 (sixteen million and five hundred thousand euros), as compensation for the illegal termination of the sports work contract.”

The decision is open to appeal.