The striker, still from Colo Colo, informed the leadership that he will not continue in the institution and will not join the preseason. If he sticks to his stance, he risks a stiff sanction from FIFA.
Juan Martín Lucero informed the leadership of Blanco y Negro that he will not continue in Colo Colo. The player will not show up for the preseason in Argentina and puts Gustavo Quinteros in serious trouble who will have to see how another key player leaves.
The gunner’s representative interprets a penalty clause in the Mendoza contract, however, at the dealership they deny any option that the player could leave unexpectedly. For the same, the case can escalate to FIFA if Colo Colo decides to sue the Gato.
The case of Burrito Ortega as a precedent
It was the year 2002 and Ariel Ortega, one of Argentina’s great players, left River Plate for a million-dollar purchase from Turkey’s Fenerbahce. 7,500,000 dollars was what the Turkish team paid for the player’s pass and, in addition, they took over the image rights for an additional 1,500,000 dollars, in a contract that lasted for 4 years.
Despite the length of the link, Ortega only played 14 games with his new team’s shirt and, from one moment to the next, the trans-Andean man did not return. On January 10, 2003, he took his car and headed for the Istanbul airport, consummating his early departure from the club. The fact was clearly not accepted by Fenerbache, who turned to FIFA to sue the soccer player and the world soccer governing body ruled against Ortega, leaving him on the brink of retirement.
“The leaders behaved very badly with me: they promised to bring Argentine players and they didn’t comply. The coach had stopped talking to me… I couldn’t take it any further,” The former River Plate declared that he escaped from the club in those days.
FIFA punished the driver and delivered an exemplary sanction. If he wanted to play soccer again, Burrito would have to pay 11 million dollars to the Turkish team as compensation. But not only that, since in addition to the pecuniary penalty, he disabled him until the end of 2023. “On February 13, 2003, he broke his employment contract with Fenerbahce without just cause and therefore has to pay that amount as compensation. The player is suspended under article 23 and will not be able to play for any club before December 30 2003,” said a FIFA official.
Finally, andn August 2004, Newell’s Old Boys came to the rescue of the former national team, offering to intercede with Fenerbahce and pay the amount that was imposed as a penalty. Ortega accepted the proposal and, after long inactive months, returned to professional soccer.
Colo Colo will go to court for Juan Martín Lucero
The situation of Juan Martín Lucero seems to be a simile of what happened with Ariel Ortega at the beginning of 2000. With a valid contract until the year 2025, the striker made the decision not to show up for the preseason in Argentina and, finally, Blanco y Negro will go to the last instance, an issue that could cost the player dearly.
