Serbian coach Antic keeps job, but gets salary cut

BELGRADE (AFP) – Serbian national football coach Radomir Antic has agreed to have his salary halved to hang on to his job following a four-match ban by FIFA, an official said Thursday.

“Radomir Antic agreed that his salary of 100,000 euros (128,700 dollars) be reduced by 50 percent,” Serbian Football Federation (FSS) president Tomislav Karadzic said.

The salary cut “was a condition” of the FSS for Antic to continue in his job as national coach.

Last month Antic was hit with a four-match ban by world governing body FIFA for “inappropriate behaviour” during his team’s World Cup exit at the hands of Australia. Antic was also fined 10,500 euros.

Antic was angry that Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda did not give a penalty to his team in the final minutes of their 2-1 defeat to Australia when the ball appeared to hit Tim Cahill’s hand.

Serbia defeated Germany in group action but still failed to qualify for the last 16 after losing to Ghana and Australia.