China risk World Cup expulsion over pay dispute with ex-coach - and that could be huge boost for Hong Kong's chances
Fifa agrees to hear case of the sacked Spaniard, who says he wasn't compensated for having his contract terminated in 2013 with one year left
China risk being expelled from World Cup qualifying – potentially at Hong Kong’s gain – because of a two-year salary dispute with sacked former national coach Jose Antonio Camacho.
Mainland portal Sina cited a Spanish media report saying Camacho had filed a complaint with Fifa accusing the Chinese Football Association of failing to pay compensation of 6.45 million euros when he was let go in June 2013 with one year left on his contract.
Spanish news outlet Diario AS reported that Fifa had agreed to hear Camacho’s case. If Fifa finds in favour of the Spaniard, the body could demand that China pay him immediately or face the possibility of being kicked out of the World Cup qualifiers.
In March, Fifa banned Zimbabwe from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers because the African country’s body failed to settle outstanding wages owed to former coach Jose Claudinei. Fifa ordered Zimbabwe to pay the coach in August 2012 and banned them in March after they had still failed to pay off the debt.
Camacho was sacked after a string of poor performances.