FOOTBALL
Panathinaikos pay Ghanaian star Essien €53k to avoid relegation
The Athens-based club overturned a three-point deduction after covering their debts with former the Ghana international.
Former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been paid €53k by Panathinaikos, which is understood to be part of the salary owed to the Ghanaian.
The 35-year-old free agent joined Panathinaikos on 2 June 2015, however, as he was recovering from a leg injury, Essien made his debut in Greece on 24 January 2016.
After spending a season in Athens, the Ghanaian’s contract was terminated, as he failed to live up the expectation of the club.
Essien's Unpaid salary
In May 2017, Panathinaikos were ordered to settle €418,975 as a compensation to bring an end to a litigation with Essien, after the latter took on them for wrongful termination of his contract in September 2016.
However, as the debt remained unpaid, an Athens based court ordered on Tuesday the deduction of three points from Panathinaikos at the Superleague Greece.
The club, however, had three working days to redeem themselves and restore the deducted points.
The €53k paid to Essien on Thursday represent two months of a fee that’s being paid in instalments.
Relegation avoided
After the three points were reinstalled, Panathinaikos will finish the 2017/18 edition of the 16-team Superleague Greece at the 11th position with 32 points, just three points above the relegation zone.