Official | St Étienne release Stéphane Ruffier

Ligue 1 side St Étienne have on Monday confirmed the release of 34-year-old French goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier with immediate effect.

The news comes after months of legal battling between the player’s agent and the club, who decided to initiate a termination procedure against the Frenchman for turning up late to training, following manager Claude Puel’s decision that he wanted the veteran out last summer.

A short statement from ASSE read:

“We regret having come to this decision, made unavoidable by the attitude of the player towards this institution.”

Ruffier’s contract was due to expire in summer in any case.