Last week the Luxembourg Football Federation announced it had terminated coach Dan Santos’ contract following allegations of inappropriate messages to players.
On Thursday, Santos released a statement formally contesting the termination of his contract and the accusations against him.
Santos said it was regrettable that such serious allegations had been made public before a full and balanced investigation had been carried out, which could have allowed him to defend himself in an adequate manner.
During his time as national coach for the women’s team, Santos said he had conducted his job with engagement, integrity and respect for the sport and players, actively contributing to the development of women’s football in Luxembourg.
Due to the gravity of the allegations, Santos said he had sought legal representation through François Prum and Alexeji Nickels in order to act in his interests, to ensure his protection and to deal with any consequences.
The former FLF coach said he hoped the situation would be handled seriously, with the responsibility and respect required, and with respect for his privacy.
The news of Santos’ sacking sent shockwaves through Luxembourg’s sporting society last week. With Minister Martine Hansen applauding the FLF for taking direct action.
Last week, the FLF’s legal representative explained there was concrete evidence of Santos’ messages to players, and that tensions had developed between the coach and the team following the match against Scotland.
