The case of the sudden departure of Iranian outside hitter Poriya from Lube Civitanova escalated from an internal club issue into a serious national and international scandal. The General Director of the Italian giant, Beppe Cormio, convened an extraordinary press conference to make serious accusations, question the ethics in Serie A, and demand urgent regulatory changes.
Suspicions of external pressure
At the center of the scandal was possible interference from the head coach of the Iranian national team, Gianpaolo Piazza, who simultaneously holds the position of head coach for Milano, a direct competitor of Lube. According to Cormio, a conversation between Poriya and the national coach was the turning point after which the player decided to leave.
Lube's director was adamant that the dual role – national team and club – should not exist, as it creates a conflict of interest and undermines trust in the championship.
Contract until 2026, but unilateral departure
The club emphasized that Poriya had a fully active and regularly performed contract until 2026. There was no signed mutual termination, no financial agreement. Nevertheless, the player left voluntarily the day after returning from a match in Belgium, without even saying goodbye to his teammates.
Lube reminded that the outside hitter had received full remuneration until the last day, and that he had playing time – a total of six matches, including as a starter. According to Cormio, claims of "complete disregard" are not true.
Enormous damage to the club
Poriya's departure creates a serious problem in terms of sports-technical and economic aspects. Italian rules allow for only one squad change until the playoffs, which places Lube in an extremely vulnerable position in case of potential injuries.
Cormio described the situation as "technical, economic, and moral damage," emphasizing that the club had invested not only funds but also a human approach towards the player.
Legal battle on the horizon
Lube Civitanova are adamant that they will defend themselves "at all costs." The club's position is clear – the contract is valid, it was unilaterally breached, and the player and his agent may be obliged to return the received sums, including the commission.
A problem that goes beyond a single transfer
Cormio used the case to make a broader call for reform. According to him, the current international system allows federations to block or nullify contracts, which distorts the balance in favor of the players and leaves clubs without real protection.
He called for:
clearer registration rules;
introduction of a "medical joker," as in Poland;
strict regulation of dual roles for coaches.
A case that harms volleyball
"This is not just one player less," Cormio summarized. "This is a blow to trust, ethics, and the stability of our movement."
The Porya scandal is no longer just a problem for Lube Civitanova. It brings up questions that Serie A and international volleyball can no longer postpone.
photos:legavolley.itand Nikolay Varadinov
