FFA seek Advocaat action

Dutchman reneges Australia agreement

Last updated: 29th November 2007

dick advocaat

Advocaat: New Zenit deal

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The Football Federation of Australia will contact Fifa after Dick Advocaat penned a new deal with Zenit St Petersburg.

Advocaat has signed a one-year contract with the recently-crowned Russian champions, despite agreeing to take over as Australia's next coach in time for the start of the 2010 World Cup.

FFA boss Ben Buckley has confirmed that a case has been prepared, and the federation will soon contact Fifa about the Dutchman's actions.

"We put a lot of hard work and effort into securing his services and to be told on the eve of the World Cup campaign that he was not going to fulfil his contract is very disappointing," Buckley told the Sydney Morning Herald.

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"We've now prepared our case, we intend to go to Fifa, and I think this goes beyond the issue of just compensation."

Advocaat has offered his apologies to the FFA, but explained that the substantial financial offer from Zenit was too good to turn down.

"I definitely feel so sorry but at the same time you have to take a decision in life that is quite difficult to do so," he told the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

"I couldn't refuse this offer. It was quite a lot of money, to be honest. It was double."