The A-League football club Wellington Phoenix have been ordered to pay Chinese star Lei Lei Gao more than $45,000 compensation after a disputes tribunal found the club did not have just cause to terminate his playing contract.
The player was given his marching orders in November 2008.
The Australian National Dispute Resolution Chamber awarded the compensation for the balance of the payments due to Lei Lei from the date of termination until the expiry date of his contract.
The Phoenix had argued that the termination of Lei Lei's contract was for just cause, due to their concerns over the player's conduct and allegations that he had breached a number of provisions of the club's code of conduct, failing to attend training sessions, getting into an altercation with a fellow player at training and failing to wear prescribed apparel.
