SOFIA, (Reuters) – The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) have ordered Bulgarian champions Lukoil Academic to pay two former players nearly $285,000 in unpaid salaries and lawsuit expenses, the club said.
Former Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Stevin Smith and Serbian guard Nenad Djoric filed for compensation over delays in salary payments after leaving the club in 2008.
The 17-times Bulgarian champions must pay Smith $183,033 and Djoric $101,887, with FIBA ruling that Lukoil were not allowed to sign new players until the payments had been made.
However, Lukoil sporting director Sasho Vezenkov said the club would appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
