Former Al Ain FC coach ‘being punished twice’ for same offence

Defence lawyer for Romanian Cosmin Olaroiu says hisclient's already been fined Dh100,000 and banned for defaming the club.

ABU DHABI // Lawyers of Al Ain FC's former coach accused of defaming the club have said that he is being punished twice for the same offence.

Romanian Cosmin Olaroiu, who now works for Al Ahli, in Dubai, was charged over remarks he allegedly made implying that the club took money from him to buy shirts for players.

At Abu Dhabi Misdemeanours Court on Tuesday, his lawyer said that, last November, when the incident allegedly occurred, he was fined Dh100,000 by the country's Football Association and banned from coaching for six months.

“A punishment was signed and executed,” said a member of his legal team, “and now he is under trial for the same reason again.”

He added: “After the interference of the Ruler of Sharjah and officials who disclosed the issue to the media, we have received from club officials that a settlement is under process between the two clubs.”

Mr Olaroiu’s defence also said that, when issuing charges, prosecutors used selective parts of a press conference where Mr Olaroiu is said to have made defamatory remarks, leaving important parts out.

“So we request contacting Abu Dhabi Sports channel to provide a CD of the press conference mentioned in the accusation,” a lawyer said.

Al Ain’s lawyers argued that Mr Olaroiu’s statements “were an act of breaching public security and causing a stir within the UAE society”.

“He confessed in front of prosecutors, so regarding the CD, it is not cut into parts but it contained the part that concerns the lawsuit,” they said.

Mr Olaroiu’s lawyer said that he did not confess but prosecutors “took the words, ‘yes, true’, without the rest of the answer”.

He also requested his client’s acquittal.

The case was adjourned.