As of 1 July, Marin Pongracic is once again under contract with VfL Wolfsburg. The contract of the centre-back, who is currently on loan to Borussia Dortmund, runs until 2024. However, both parties are now taking legal action against each other – the conciliation hearing took place on Tuesday at the Braunschweig Labour Court.
It was a virtual meeting at the labour court in Braunschweig. The lawyers of Marin Pongracic and VfL Wolfsburg met via Skype. This had become necessary because the player has sued his employer. He is demanding 250,000 euros in performance bonuses which, in his opinion, were not paid out to him in accordance with the contract. VfL sees things differently and has filed a counterclaim for 85,000 euros. The reason: Pongracic made some very negative comments about VfL and its then coach Mark van Bommel in a Twitch interview last November, which the club believes will result in a contractual penalty.
Pongracic also reported at the time about the transfer fee of nine million euros that VfL had transferred to RB Salzburg in January 2020, stating that this was now also the sum that Borussia Dortmund would have to pay should BVB make use of the purchase option. And explained that his loan club had currently taken over his entire salary.
Attempts at a settlement failed in the run-up
Attempts at a settlement, reported Pongracic’s lawyer Prof. Dr. Claus Köhler from Munich, had failed in the run-up. “VfL Wolfsburg has communicated that the ideas of the plaintiff and the defendant are too far apart.” The core issue is a special agreement between Pongracic and VfL. The general Wolfsburg bonus agreement provided for 250,000 euros for reaching the Champions League, the Croatian was to receive 300,000 euros. This was to be paid out in 25,000 euros, which was added to the monthly basic salary. In July and August 2021, Pongracic received a total of 50,000 euros, after which he moved to Dortmund on loan at no cost. The Wolfsburg view, presented by lawyer Dr. Joachim Rain from Ludwigsburg: There are no further bonus payments, after all, the Dortmund basic salary is higher. Lawyer Köhler countered: “The salary with Dortmund was agreed completely autonomously, Dortmund did not take over the bonuses.” Lawyer Rain countered: “If we lend the player for free, then it must be clear that Borussia Dortmund will pay the salary. If he had stayed with VfL, he would have received the increased basic salary. “
Judge Lutz Bertram: “I wonder who can actually win in this case.
Hardened fronts that were not softened by the Wolfsburg counterclaim. “There are not entirely simple questions of interpretation that affect both points,” says Judge Lutz Bertram, and yet he is surprised: “I find it somewhat surprising that this legal dispute is being fought out in a way that attracts public attention. I wonder who can actually win in this.”
Although Marin Pongracic has a contract in Wolfsburg until 2024, his sporting future is still up in the air. It is clear that Dortmund will not exercise the option to buy the defender, who has played in twelve league games this season, and that Pongracic will return to Wolfsburg as things stand today. However, it seems extremely unlikely that the Croatian will make another appearance for the Lower Saxons, for whom he has played 23 competitive games so far. However, Wolfsburg are also hoping to earn nine million euros for the defender.
Next appointment would be on 9 June
After a 30-minute hearing, the conciliation meeting in Braunschweig did not result in an agreement on the points of claim. If the parties do not reach an out-of-court agreement, the case will be heard in chambers on 9 June at 1 pm.
