Androni-Venezuela have offically filed charges against Johnny Hoogerland who claims not to have been paid his full salary in December. The Dutchman vented his frustration on Twitter and so his former team has decided to sue him for defamation.

Androni-Venezuela have issued the following statement:

Androni-Venezuela has filed penal charges of calumny and defamation and civil charges for punitive damages to the Public Prosecutor Office in Torino against Johnny Hoogerland, following the rider’s false declarations, seriously defamatory for the Team. The Team has also sent UCI a detailed report including the twelve monthly payslips proving the payments made to the rider and the receipts of the contributions paid to the Italian State.

The December payslip shows that the 2327,16 euros claimed by Hoogerland were paid to the State as IRPEF (income tax) balance. The same amount will be detracted from the taxes due by Hoogerland in the Netherlands, as stated in the CUD (certification of the salaries received by a worker) which will be sent him in February.

“Our team – said Team Manager Gianni Savio – has always acted correctly whereas Hooogerland’s behaviour is appalling. Therefore he will have to respond in Court of his calumnies”.