THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) said yesterday that it was always confident that it would prevail in an ambitious legal action brought against it by former Reggae Boyz head coach Velibor ‘Bora’ Milutinovic, who wanted to be compensated some US$3 million (J$255 million) for wrongful termination.

President of the JFF, Captain Horace Burrell who fired the Serb as one of his first acts as president in 2007, said his action was not driven by impulse, but one predicated on solid legal advice.

“The JFF was always confident that its decision to terminate was done with sound advice following legal counsel with its attorney Queen’s Counsel John Vassell. We were also confident that we would have prevailed throughout the various legal processes of any arbitration or challenges available to Bora,” Burrell said yesterday, prior to departing for Brazil to attend the FIFA World Cup draw.

Milutinovic’s substantial claim, which was frowned upon at each stage of the legal process, represented the three years remaining on his four-year deal signed in 2006 when he was sacked for an unspecified breach of contract. The journeyman coach was being paid US$1 million (J$85 million) per year by the JFF, then led by Crenston Boxhill.

A Swiss Federal Tribunal this week rejected Milutinovic’s final appeal and confirmed he would receive compensation of less than US$20,000 (J$1.7 million).

In addition, the tribunal also ordered the Serbian-born coach to pay US$40,000 (J$3.4 million) in court costs and legal fees.

“The JFF is very satisfied with the ruling and it is our understanding that Bora has now exhausted all appeal processes open to members in the football family,” Burrell added.

“The JFF is required to pay approximately US$20,000 for liquidated damages. This we accept as the normal course of doing business in today’s complex global commercial environment. Naturally, every cent that we can avoid spending in matters of this nature is better for our treasury for use in other critical areas,” said the acting president of a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) embroiled in an ugly corruption scandal.

At the various levels of the legal journey, the JFF had Burrell, general secretary Horace Reid, treasurer Garfield Sinclair, vice-president Dale Spencer and director Raymond Grant appearing. The legal team was led by Swiss lawyer Gian Paolo Monteneri and included Vassell.

Monteneri, who once headed FIFA’s legal department, was recommended to the JFF by Swiss Peter Hargitay, who has worked on numerous projects for the local association, including the current kit arrangement with Kappa.

Milutinovic’s two-year legal battle pitted him against Jamaican officials, FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The five-time World Cup coach took his claim for compensation to FIFA, whose players’ status committee awarded him US$1 million (J$85 million), but the Jamaican officials appealed to a CAS panel which downgraded the award to “US$19,691.90 in liquidated damages”, the sports court said.

Milutinovic challenged the JFF and FIFA at Switzerland’s supreme court, but the latter dismissed his appeal as “the US$3 million could not be justified”.

Nicknamed “The Miracle Worker” for his World Cup record, Milutinovic made football history as the first man to coach five different countries at the finals. From 1986-2002, the Serb guided Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States, Nigeria and China, respectively, at the World Cup. All but China advanced from the group stage.

Milutinovic also coached then-Asian champion Iraq at the 2009 Confederations Cup played in South Africa.

When he was fired by Burrell, Jamaica had fallen 45 places to No 103 in the FIFA rankings, one of its lowest. Only their 116th placing in 2008 was worst.