Andrey Lunev publicly appealed to Alexei Miller due to non-payment of bonuses in “Zenith”.
“Dear Alexey Borisovich!
I know what kind of support you have been giving to Zenit over the years, being, perhaps, the main fan of the club and its support. It is difficult to overestimate the role that you and the company you lead play in the life of the club.
I did not want to do this publicly, but, unfortunately, the situation forces me to address you personally through the media.
In the 2020/21 season, the general director of the club, Alexander Ivanovich Medvedev, guaranteed the entire team the payment of increased bonuses for victorious matches once morest Spartak (December 16, 2020, 3-1 victory) and Lokomotiv (May 2, 2021, 6-1 victory ). I went on the field in both games and contributed to the victory over principal rivals.
To date, all club players have been paid increased bonuses. I became an exception. “Zenith” refused to close the debts to me.
Representatives of the club claim that there were no such bonuses in the club and they were not paid to anyone. Although everyone knows perfectly well that this is not the case and they were paid out under other payment purposes.
I understand the motives for such behavior of a number of representatives of the club. It’s no secret that I had a financial dispute with the club over a number of positions. I can say with confidence that this dispute was the reason for the non-payment of bonuses to me. In addition, the club, in the calculation, which, it is worth noting, was last made with me only in April 2022, also withheld a significant part of the bonuses I earned for winning the 2020/21 championship.
The decision on controversial issues, if the club does not agree with my position, must be made by the RFU Dispute Resolution Chamber with the most objective, unbiased consideration.
But why does the club refuse to pay the bonuses due to me, as well as to all players?
At the same time, until recently, I did not apply to the jurisdictional bodies of the RFU and the courts, for more than a year I was counting on a peaceful settlement of the conflict with the club out of respect for it and what it means to me.
I believe that any disputes cannot be a reason for the club not to fulfill its obligations to pay bonuses. Such an attitude does not paint such a big club as Zenit.
During the last conversation in March of this year, representatives of the club set me a condition: if you want to receive bonuses, give up the rest of the financial claims once morest the club and sign an agreement.
I consider this approach of the club unacceptable and bordering on blackmail. This is disrespect to me, who faithfully served the interests of the club for 4.5 years.
It was this position of the club that forced me to defend my interests and apply to the RFU Dispute Resolution Chamber. I believe that I did not deserve such an attitude from individual representatives of the club and the manipulation of money earned by honest work.
Now, in order to prove the truth, I will have to involve witnesses from among the former football players of the club who will confirm that the increased bonuses for Spartak and Lokomotiv were received by the players. I would really hate to resort to such methods of protection, but the club leaves me no other choice.
Despite everything, no matter how this situation develops, I will always treat Zenit and its fans with great trepidation. “Zenith” for me is much more than its individual representatives.
I ask you to pay attention to my appeal and take control of the situation in order to resolve it.
With great respect for FC Zenit, whose colors he defended for 4.5 years and with which he won three Championships and the Russian Cup, as well as his fans, Andrey Lunev, ”the footballer, who now plays for Bayer.
