Former Morocco Star Ouaddou Seeks $1 Million in Damages After Abrupt MCO Coaching Dismissal

Recruited in October 2020, Abdeslam Ouaddou was fired by the club’s management on January 6, after only two games, even though he had signed a 4-season contract. He filed a complaint with the court for "unfair dismissal" and non-compliance with contractual obligations by the club president, Mohamed Houar. Almost a year later, he plans to seek compensation for the damage suffered from his former employer, reports Hespress.

To read: Former Mouloudia d’Oujda Coach Threatens Legal Action, Demands 10 Million Dirhams

"Originally, Mr. Ouaddou was offered by the President of the MCO Club a wonderful opportunity to implement, as General Manager, Head Coach of the Senior Team and Head of Sports Development (football school, pre-training and training), an ambitious project within the Club... Unfortunately, Mr. Ouaddou’s hopes were very quickly dashed and the return to reality was brutal," explains the lawyer of the former Moroccan international, Me Alexis Rutman.

To read: Former Morocco Star Ouaddou Alleges Unfair Dismissal from MCO Coaching Role

Ouaddou rejected the MCO club’s "proposal" to modify the duration of his employment contract "to 9 months (with a term on June 30, 2021 instead of June 30, 2024)", which led the club to "unilaterally terminate his contract, without even taking the trouble to mention the slightest reason," adds the lawyer in a note. This is why the former Moroccan international seized the CNRL of the FRMF to demand the condemnation of the MCO club to pay him "the unpaid salaries and other contractual benefits due".

To read: Former Morocco Star Ouaddou Claims Unpaid Wages, Broken Promises at Oujda Club

Abdeslam Ouaddou is also claiming the payment of "damages and interest in compensation for the financial and professional damage he suffered, corresponding to the full remuneration remaining to be paid between the date of termination of the employment contract and its original term" and also in compensation "for the moral prejudice he suffered due to the unacceptable actions of the MCO club towards him", specifies the lawyer, stressing that "Ouaddou has ultimately never received a single dirham of salary from the MCO club". If this request does not succeed, Ouaddou reserves the right to seize the competent FIFA bodies.