Lausanne, Switzerland, Jul 27: Five-time World Cup coach Bora Milutinovic has lost his legal bid to receive a million-dollar payoff from the Jamaica Football Federation after being fired in 2007.
Milutinovic originally sought $3 million to settle the three years remaining on his deal when he was sacked for an unspecified breach of contract.
A Swiss Federal Tribunal ruling published this week rejected Milutinovic's final appeal and confirmed he would receive compensation of less than $20,000.
However, the tribunal also ordered the Serbian coach to pay 32,000 Swiss francs ($40,000) in court costs and legal fees.
Milutinovic's legal battle pitted him against Jamaican officials, FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Nicknamed “The Miracle Worker” for his World Cup record, Milutinovic made football history as the first man to coach five different teams at the finals.
Jamaica hired him in November 2006 on a four-year contract with an annual salary of $1 million.
When Milutinovic was fired less than one year later, Jamaica had fallen 45 places to No. 103 in the FIFA rankings.
His side had lost 8-1 against Iran, 3-0 to Vietnam and 2-1 in Indonesia.
Milutinovic took his claim for compensation to FIFA whose players' status committee awarded him $1 million.
Jamaican officials appealed to a CAS panel which downgraded the award to “$19,691.90 in liquidated damages,” the sports court said.
Milutinovic challenged the JFF and FIFA at Switzerland's supreme court, which has dismissed his appeal.
From 1986-2002, he guided Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States, Nigeria and China, respectively, at the World Cup. All but China advanced from the group stage.
Milutinovic also coached then-Asian champion Iraq at the 2009 Confederations Cup played in South Africa. AP
