[2] The deal was criticized as financial trick or even creative accounting, as the aggressive price tag of both players only improved 2010–11 financial result (selling profit nearly €3M)[3] and created an amortization cost of €3 million (€600,000 each for 5 seasons) from 2011 to 2016, with both players performance were impaired with costing the club €600,000.
Moreover, following Rickler was banned for 4 years, Bologna would never recovered the residual contract value €2.4M, thus both club gave up the bought back rights in June 2012.
[6] On 18 June 2012 Rickler was suspended for 4 years due to involvement in 2011–12 Italian football scandal.
[7] However Sbaffo's plea bargain was successful reduced the ban by heavy fine, but Rickler employed the lawyer to defence[8] and failed to acquit the charge.
However his ban was shorten by Tribunale Nazionale di Arbitrato per lo Sport to 14 months after appeal.