RACING 92 HAVE launched legal proceedings against Johan Goosen, accusing the 13-times capped Springbok and his associates of “blatant fraud.”
The 24-year-old shocked the Top 14 club last month by announcing his retirement from professional rugby in order to take up a role as “commercial director” with a company in his native South Africa.
Goosen shocked Racing last month by announcing his retirement. Inpho / Billy Stickland
Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland
That announcement came just months after Goosen had extended his contract with Racing until 2020, having been named Top 14 player of the year after starring for the Parisian club in 2015/16.
French newspaper Midi Olympique subsequently reported that Goosen’s decision to retire from rugby was due to Montpellier owner Mohad Altrad making an offer to the player to sign for Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership.
Altrad is believed to be close to securing the green light to buy a majority share in Gloucester Rugby.
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According to Midi Olympique, retirement was seen as a method of extricating Goosen from his four-year deal with Racing. Under current LNR [Ligue Nationale de Rugby] rules, Goosen would not be allowed to play for another French club for 18 months after retiring but it’s unclear how a move to England would be affected.
Racing have today confirmed that they have initiated legal proceedings against Goosen and his associates, after the player failed to turn up for training over the last two days.
The former Cheetahs back “seems to have vacated his residence at Le Plessis-Robinson,” according to Racing’s statement.
Racing insist that Goosen “still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years, while his residence, company car, locker, and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal.”
As well as the civil proceedings launched by Racing, they also confirmed they will file a criminal complaint against Goosen for presenting what they termed “a phony document” in relation to the job he claims to be taking up in South Africa.
Goosen in action for Racing in October. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Racing’s statement in full:
“Racing 92 regrets to announce that Johan Goosen has not appeared at the club for the last two days and seems to have vacated his residence at Le Plessis-Robinson. As far as Racing 92 is concerned, Johan Goosen still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years, while his residence, company car, locker, and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal.
“To this effect, Johan Goosen remains on the list of players qualified by the EPCR to play in the Champions Cup, starting with the match between Racing 92 and Munster this Saturday.
“In response to Johan Goosen’s behaviour, Racing 92 is forced to initiate several legal proceedings aimed at enforcing its rights and redressing the harm done to the club. Racing 92 believes that the club is a victim of blatant fraud which Johan Goosen, his associates and various advisers must answer for in court.
Various civil proceedings will be taken out, partly to obtain reimbursement of the advance payments made to Johan Goosen with regard to his image rights, and also to obtain compensation for the non-provision of services to which he had committed in this domain.
“A complaint will also be laid with the French Industrial Tribunal in order to prosecute the player’s fraudulent and wrongful failure to fulfil his contractual obligations and to compensate the resulting significant damage for the club.
“A criminal complaint will also be filed, as the open-ended employment contract produced by Johan Goosen and signed by one of his friends and business associates appears to constitute a phony document, given that it is not conceivable that a player put an end to his sporting career while at the peak of such career, and accept a position in a South African company for a salary ten times less than what he was earning as a rugby player at Racing 92.
“Full light must be shed on the responsibility of the various people who advised Johan Goosen in taking this aberrant and fraudulent strategy, and to this extent, there are grounds for wondering how Johan Goosen is being supported financially given the numerous commitments and investments he has to meet.”
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Racing 92 launch legal proceedings against Goosen over 'blatant fraud'
RACING 92 HAVE launched legal proceedings against Johan Goosen, accusing the 13-times capped Springbok and his associates of “blatant fraud.”
The 24-year-old shocked the Top 14 club last month by announcing his retirement from professional rugby in order to take up a role as “commercial director” with a company in his native South Africa.
That announcement came just months after Goosen had extended his contract with Racing until 2020, having been named Top 14 player of the year after starring for the Parisian club in 2015/16.
French newspaper Midi Olympique subsequently reported that Goosen’s decision to retire from rugby was due to Montpellier owner Mohad Altrad making an offer to the player to sign for Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership.
Altrad is believed to be close to securing the green light to buy a majority share in Gloucester Rugby.
According to Midi Olympique, retirement was seen as a method of extricating Goosen from his four-year deal with Racing. Under current LNR [Ligue Nationale de Rugby] rules, Goosen would not be allowed to play for another French club for 18 months after retiring but it’s unclear how a move to England would be affected.
Racing have today confirmed that they have initiated legal proceedings against Goosen and his associates, after the player failed to turn up for training over the last two days.
The former Cheetahs back “seems to have vacated his residence at Le Plessis-Robinson,” according to Racing’s statement.
Racing insist that Goosen “still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years, while his residence, company car, locker, and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal.”
As well as the civil proceedings launched by Racing, they also confirmed they will file a criminal complaint against Goosen for presenting what they termed “a phony document” in relation to the job he claims to be taking up in South Africa.
Racing’s statement in full:
“Racing 92 regrets to announce that Johan Goosen has not appeared at the club for the last two days and seems to have vacated his residence at Le Plessis-Robinson. As far as Racing 92 is concerned, Johan Goosen still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years, while his residence, company car, locker, and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal.
“To this effect, Johan Goosen remains on the list of players qualified by the EPCR to play in the Champions Cup, starting with the match between Racing 92 and Munster this Saturday.
“In response to Johan Goosen’s behaviour, Racing 92 is forced to initiate several legal proceedings aimed at enforcing its rights and redressing the harm done to the club. Racing 92 believes that the club is a victim of blatant fraud which Johan Goosen, his associates and various advisers must answer for in court.
“A complaint will also be laid with the French Industrial Tribunal in order to prosecute the player’s fraudulent and wrongful failure to fulfil his contractual obligations and to compensate the resulting significant damage for the club.
“A criminal complaint will also be filed, as the open-ended employment contract produced by Johan Goosen and signed by one of his friends and business associates appears to constitute a phony document, given that it is not conceivable that a player put an end to his sporting career while at the peak of such career, and accept a position in a South African company for a salary ten times less than what he was earning as a rugby player at Racing 92.
“Full light must be shed on the responsibility of the various people who advised Johan Goosen in taking this aberrant and fraudulent strategy, and to this extent, there are grounds for wondering how Johan Goosen is being supported financially given the numerous commitments and investments he has to meet.”
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Top 14 Contract Controversy Johan Goosen retires statement Racing Métro 92