Former player sues Newcastle, cites mistreatment during struggle with cancer
As if going winless from the opening 8 games of the current English Premier League season wasn't enough, Newcastle United have run in to further trouble. The Magpies based out of North England are being sued for GBP 2million by former player Jonas Gutierrez because of the way he was mistreated during his year-long battle with testicular cancer.
From what we understand, the basis of the lawsuit is the 2010 Equality Act, which relates to discrimination against employees because of mental or physical disability.
Having made to move on, the Argentine left St James’ Park in June earlier this year after the club chose not to offer him a new contract when his estimated GBP 50,000-a-week deal expired. This despite him managing to claw his way back in to the first team post recovery.
Seeds of discontent were sowed long back
Things didn't quite end amicably between the Argentine and Newcastle as he was quoted saying thus, in a release to the media, in March, “I won't be able to forgive the way I've been treated, no
I don't think it was the right time nor the circumstances and I think at times like that, you should look after the individual, the player.
I was operated on in Argentina. They removed the testicle. The post-surgery studies were good and well, I went back to England after being discharged.
I returned mid-November (2013) and at the beginning to mid-December the manager said I should find myself another club, that it was best. I understand a lot of things about football that, well, that for the directors it is a business, no?
It is clear that they look after the club's interests, but I think in a situation like that, you need to save (consider) other things, even more as I had been playing for five years before having this problem. I was always playing.
And I never asked for anything. I paid for it because, for me, the most important thing was my health.”
This despite the 32 year old returning and scoring spectacularly against West Ham on the final day of last season. He maintains the club didn't even take in to consideration that he could be retained and largely considered him a liability.
Final nail in the coffin
What perhaps proved detrimental for the now - Deportivo La Coruna playmaker was the way the news was conveyed to him, The then manager John Carver called him to inform about the non-renewal, a move which Gutierrez deems despicable, ”I think man to man, face to face is the nice thing to do,' Gutierrez said in June.
It made me think they don't care about anything. I had been there seven years, I always did my best. The only 18 months I didn't play was because I was going through my illness.
Maybe they could have told me before the end of the season so I could say thank you to the fans on the pitch after the last game.”
Disrespectful as it was, here’s hoping justice is being served.