David O’Leary wins over £3m in compensation after Al Ahli sacking

London: Former Aston Villa and Leeds United manager David O’Leary has won £3.34m (Dh19m) in compensation from Al Ahli FC, following his sacking by the Dubai-based club in 2011.

A long running dispute between the club and their former manager has been settled by Fifa’s Players’ Status Committee in favour of O’Leary, who was dismissed in April 2011 after just eight months in charge.

Al Ahli, who sacked O’Leary after he won just six of his 15 league games in charge, told the media at the time that he had been dismissed but club officials subsequently claimed the former Arsenal player had abandoned his post.

Fifa dismissed the club’s claim that O’Leary had walked away and also rejected Al Ahli’s claim that the world governing body had no jurisdiction over the case. The sum of £3.34m represents payment in full of the remaining two years of O’Leary’s contract.

“It has taken a long time to deal with this matter but I am pleased that all issues have now been finalised. I hope my case provides reassurance to all managers and coaches working all over the world that there is a formal system in place that provides employment protection,” said O’Leary in a statement issued through the League Managers Association.

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said he was “delighted” with the outcome and claimed it had wider implications for managers employed abroad.

“The added significance and wider impact of this process is the proof that Fifa has mechanisms in place which regulate worldwide employment issues,” said Bevan.

“It is extremely encouraging to know that the world governing body can provide a means of redress for managers and coaches at all levels seeking to establish their employment rights, wherever in the world they happen to work.”

O’Leary, whose last job in England with Aston Villa ended in 2006, has not worked in football since losing his post at Al Ahli FC.