For over ten years, Ramin Kiani had worked as a national instructor and coach trainer at the Swedish Football Association. But at the turn of the year, his previous employment contract expired.
He negotiated four months’ salary in severance pay, but it came with a counterclaim.
In the draft agreement which Aftonbladet was the first to tell about itand which SVT Sport has also taken note of, stated among other things that a condition for each payment was that Ramin Kiani “does not damage the football association’s brand and reputation”.
“I want to keep my self-respect”
Something he himself interpreted as the union wanting to buy his loyalty.
– I sought a dignified end with the Swedish Football Association. That we would separate respectfully, professionally and with dignity. That was not the case. And of course I am very sorry for that, he says.
Because you didn’t sign?
– No. I refused to do that. And I want to maintain my self-respect and integrity.
That’s what it said in the draft agreement
“A prerequisite for each payment is that Ramin Kiani fully respects and lives up to SvFF’s core values - Trust, Together and Forward – and does not damage SvFF’s brand and reputation.
SvFF evaluates compliance on an ongoing basis and before each payment opportunity, after talking with Ramin Kiani, makes an assessment of whether the above has been followed and then decides whether payment should take place.”
How much his testimony influenced what was said at SvFF’s staff meeting last Friday, which in turn is said to have contributed to general secretary Andrea Möllerberg’s resignation, Kiani does not want to speculate.
What he wants, however, is for Swedish football to learn from the last year’s turbulence within the confederation.
See a longer report with Ramin Kiani in the player above.
Andrea Möllerberg was the sender of the draft agreement. She tells SVT Sport that the purpose of the agreement was never to try to buy Kiani’s loyalty.
– I never really got it, that he interpreted it that way. And I’m very sorry that it has come out like that. And I don’t really see the purpose of us wanting to silence him, because the agreement (the employment agreement, editor’s note) ended on December 31, she says.