The already-messy firing of Real Salt Lake coach Mike Petke has taken another nasty turn. On Wednesday, Petke filed a lawsuit against his former club alleging defamation and breach of contract, while pointing to a general pattern of mudslinging the suit says was designed to ruin his reputation and to avoid paying him the $700,000 remaining on his contract.



The lawsuit, filed in Third Judicial District Court of Salt Lake County in Utah, names Utah Soccer LLC (the company through which Dell Loy Hansen owns RSL) as the defendant in the case. In total, the 40-page complaint outlines seven causes of action against Real Salt Lake: breach of contract, violation of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, promissory estoppel, quantum meruit/unjust enrichment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and false light.



RSL declined to comment on the suit beyond its statement, in which the club said it “is aware of the lawsuit filed by former head coach Mike...