Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is taking legal action over the ending of his playing contract with Australian A-League side North Queensland Fury. Fowler, who has since joined Perth, was one of six players whose contracts were ended when Fury restructured in March after suffering financial difficulties.
He is suing the Fury and Football Federation Australia, which took over the running of the club.
"The way the players were treated was disgraceful," said the 35-year-old.
"The players feel strongly that all contracts must be protected whenever an A-League club is restructured.
"Players make career and lifestyle-changing decisions in reliance on the contracts they have signed.
"Obviously, the game's extensive efforts to attract the highest calibre of players into the competition are only as strong as the security of the contracts they sign.
"This case is not about the compensation, it is about ensuring contract security for all players in the A-League and more specifically for the players who have suffered from the way in which the FFA handled the player contracts."
According to Professional Footballers Australia chief executive Brendan Schwab, the FFA reneged on a promise to North Queensland players last February that all player contracts would be assigned if the Fury survived.
Schwab also said that the PFA had re-negotiated contracts for all the Fury players except Fowler because the FFA had terminated his contract without "just cause" and without negotiating any outside settlement.
"The case is of fundamental importance to all A-League players, as it goes to the heart of the security of a player contract in the A-League," said Schwab.
"To Robbie's credit, he could have gone and played in just about any country around the world and forgotten about the Fury situation, but he is committed to developing the Australian game and ensuring contract security for Australian players."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport