BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) _ A player with second-division club Jiul Petrosani was beaten after he tried to cancel his contract because he wasn't paid on time, authorities said Monday.

Mihai Lungan and his agent Dumitru Tudor accused the club's owner Alin Simota of ordering his bodyguards to beat the player, said Florin Nicolae, head of the Petrosani police.

``We know who the attackers are,'' Nicolae told Realitatea television, adding that investigators are looking for evidence to prove guilt.

Nicolae also said Lungan presented a medical certificate that shows he needs 12 days of medical care to recover from his injuries.

Simota, a local businessman, has denied any involvement, saying that he was out of the country at the time of the incident.

Lungan told the television station that he asked his agent to cancel his contract because he did not receive his salary for several months. Tudor said he received a threatening call from Simota after filing the paperwork.

Jiul Petrosani coach Ioan Sdrobis confirmed the incident, saying he saw the player covered in blood after a training session.