Rene Hiddink rejects Hearts of Oak settlement talks

Rene Hiddink has decided not to engage in talks with Hearts of Oak after FIFA ordered the Ghanaian club to pay the Dutch tactician USD150,000 for unlawfully terminating his contract.

Hiddink joined the Phobians on a three-year deal in 2023 but left the job after eight months.

Hearts decided to end the contract and failed to pay the remaining amount owed to him, forcing Hiddink to seek redress from FIFA.

He won the case, with the world governing body ordering Hearts to settle the amount while also imposing a transfer ban on the club.

Following the decision, the club reportedly made contact with Hiddink’s camp, but according to his legal representative, David Winnie, the Dutchman declined the meeting.

“Togbe Afede and the head of finance at Hearts of Oak contacted my client, Rene Hiddink, yesterday to try to reach some form of settlement following FIFA’s decision to award Rene the remainder of his contract. However, Rene declined.

“Almost a year ago, we approached the club to reach an agreement that would allow Rene to walk away, but they refused to respond to emails or telephone calls. Now that FIFA has delivered its decision, Rene is no longer interested in any settlement that delays the process,” he told Akoma FM.

He added: “The only thing Rene is interested in now is being paid the remaining sum on his contract as ordered by FIFA.”

Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak are preparing for the new season, which begins next month.

The Phobians finished second in the GHALCA Top 4 tournament and will face Great Olympics in the Democracy Cup.