Antonio Conte’s row with Chelsea over his severance package has gone to a Premier League arbitration panel and it convened for the first time at a secret location in London on Thursday.
The Italian, who still had one year left on his contract, was given his marching orders last July, but neither party has been able to agree terms on a pay-off.
Conte wants the final £9.5million of his contract paid in full or all his wages until he finds another job. He has been out of work since leaving the club.
Chelsea are putting a case against Conte for breach of contract, citing some of his behaviour as a reason for not giving him the full amount.
They believe Conte’s decision to send striker Diego Costa a text telling him to find a new club cost them millions in transfer revenue. The Spain striker completed a £57m move to Atletico Madrid 14 months ago.
A three-person panel has been appointed to hear the arguments from both sides and it is understood that a verdict will not be announced until next week. Should neither party accept the findings and level of compensation determined, the case could go to the High Court.
