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Socceroo Jason Culina is shocked and disappointed by Newcastle Jets’ wish to tear up his A-League contract and the players’ union is set to fight any case vigorously on his behalf.
Culina was part of a double axing by the Jets on Tuesday.
The club sacked his father – coach Branko Culina – and also served notice they wanted to rip up Jason’s $2.65 million three-year deal after he was last week ruled out for the season.
Jason has not played for the club since he moved to the Jets from Gold Coast in the off-season.
He had struggled with a knee injury late last season.
But his latest setback and surgery on the eve of this season has prompted Newcastle – run by billionaire businessman Nathan Tinkler – to take the most drastic of action.
The Jets floated the prospect of 31-year-old Culina taking up to three years before he could play again in a statement released on Tuesday.
Professional Footballers Australia boss Brendan Schwab spoke to Jason Culina on Wednesday, and said injury was no basis for contract termination.
“He’s very disappointed and very upset, not only for himself but his father,” Schwab told AAP.
“He is also recovering from a very difficult operation (to fix his knee), so he’s going through those things as well.”
Football Federation Australia has wiped its hands of any direct involvement in the Culina dispute, confirming on Wednesday it had no authority to set aside a player contract as the Jets had asked it to do.
The matter is now set to go to the National Dispute Resolution Chamber, which makes binding decisions over contract disputes between clubs and players.
Schwab said he had no idea why the Jets had taken such drastic action over Jason Culina’s contract, going back on statements they made a fortnight ago that the club would stick by the player.
“I met with the club two weeks ago and they said they were going to support Jason and we don’t know what’s happened since then to change the club’s position,” Schwab said.
“We regard such an application as unprecedented.
“Being injured is an inevitable part of being a footballer and the collective bargaining agreement makes contract security on that point sacrosanct.
“We look to Newcastle to honour and uphold its contractual obligations with Jason.”
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