Sporting Lisbon Seeks $230M Compensation For Departed Players

Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon wants compensation of up to €197M ($229.9M) for three players who "terminated their contracts and have since joined other clubs," according to Matt Davis of the BBC. Among the players is Rui Patrício, who joined Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sporting wants €57M ($66.5M) for the Portugal goalkeeper, €100M ($116.7M) for Atlético Madrid winger Gelson Martins and €30-€40M ($35M-$46.7M) for Superleague Greece side Olympiakos winger Daniel Podence. Nine players "quit the club after an attack at the training ground in May." Sporting said that it reported Martins, Patrício and Podence -- and their new clubs -- to FIFA. It added that the Court of Arbitration for Sport "will decide whether to side with the players or Sporting" (BBC, 8/1).