Près de 2 milliards F CFA de primes : les détails des folles exigences de Pape Thiaw, le rôle du Président Diomaye Faye
In an interview published this Monday in L'Observateur, the president of the Communication Commission of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Bacary Cissé, reveals the behind-the-scenes details of the negotiations for the signing of Pape Thiaw's contract as worded at the time of his dismissal from the Lions' bench, decided this Saturday.
According to the federation official, discussions began on February 25th, with the Federation's proposal being sent to the 45-year-old coach, but the two parties reached an agreement in the middle of the World Cup… just hours before Senegal's second match against Norway. And before signing his three-year contract, the same source reveals, Pape Thiaw had made demands that caused FSF president Abdoulaye Fall considerable anxiety.
In early June, as the Lions were preparing to travel to the United States, the press revealed that Pape Thiaw refused to travel with the team without having signed his contract. According to Bacary Cissé, an advisor to President Diomaye Faye, who was at the training camp at the time, he informed the Presidential Palace. The Head of State then spoke directly with the coach and convinced him to accept a net monthly salary of 30 million CFA francs, whereas he had initially asked for 50 million.
The crisis was defused, and the Lions, along with their coach, flew to the United States. "However," recalls the head of communications for the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), "once the team was gathered in the US, the coach came back with a vengeance. While he finally agreed to the 30 million CFA francs monthly salary, he now demanded a 440 million CFA franc signing bonus, 500 million CFA francs in special bonuses, and 1 billion CFA francs in the event of a World Cup victory."
In total, Pape Thiaw was demanding bonuses of nearly 2 billion, exactly 1.94 billion. According to Bacary Cissé, this was to be supplemented by "benefits in kind: a company car, 200 liters of fuel per month, a monthly telephone allowance of 200,000 CFA francs, and private health insurance."
"The president of the FSF was therefore forced to refer the matter again to the President of the Republic, even though we were in the middle of the competition. Everyone felt deeply embarrassed by these incessant back-and-forths," the federal official lamented.
Finally, according to the same source, the now former coach adjusted his demands: no change to his salary (30 million) or benefits in kind (car, fuel, etc.), but he is demanding a signing bonus of 120 million CFA francs, paid in quarterly installments of 30 million, 1% of the prize money awarded by FIFA should Senegal win the tournament, and a supplementary bonus of 180 million (5 million per month for 3 years). This is in addition to eight months' salary in the event of contract termination, regardless of the reason.
The Federation says ok, but sets one condition: if the Lions do not reach the semi-finals, Pape Thiaw will leave with the requested severance pay.
“On the day of the match [against Norway], just three hours before the team's departure, he returned to express his disagreement, claiming that the objective clause [reaching the semi-finals] had not been agreed upon initially. Against all expectations, the Federation ended up accepting all his demands, with the approval of the state authorities,” concluded Bacary Cissé.
With Senegal eliminated in the round of 32, Pape Thiaw will likely not be entitled to the expected bonuses. He should have to settle for a check for 240 million CFA francs, representing eight months' salary.
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