BUCHAREST, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Romania's anti-corruption prosecuting office (DNA) has launched a criminal investigation into alleged corruption by prominent club officials and player agents.
The 10 under investigation include Rapid Bucharest owner
George Copos, Dinamo Bucharest executive president Cristian
Borcea and former Romania international Gheorghe Popescu.
'The DNA ... started criminal investigations on charges of
fraud, tax evasion and money laundering against prominent
officials of Dinamo and Rapid Bucharest, Otelul Galati and
Gloria Bistrita, agents Gheorghe Popescu, Victor and Ioan Becali
and lawyer Sica Puscoci,' the DNA said in a statement on
Thursday.
Rapid Bucharest owner Copos denied any wrongdoing by him or
his employees.
'It's stupid to presume such a responsibility in our case,'
Copos told reporters. 'I'm fully confident, nobody can touch
me.'
Victor Becali said: 'I welcome such an investigation as I
have nothing to hide. I will cooperate with the investigators.'
The others under investigation were not immediately
available for comment.
The investigation surrounds the transfer of 12 players
between Romanian and overseas clubs, including the sale of
Cosmin Contra, Paul Codrea, Florin Cernat, Nicolae Mitea and
Ionel Ganea.
The Romanian Soccer Federation (FRF) said it would ask for
damages after the clubs involved in allegedly illegal transfers
abroad failed to pay a special tax required under its rules.
'The FRF will ask in court for around 600,000 euros owed by
the four clubs, if they are convicted,' the FRF international
department head Florin Prunea said.
It is the first time in the post-communist era that
authorities have investigated alleged corruption in the transfer
abroad of Romanian players, despite widespread media reports of
wrongdoing in the past 18 years.
Former Romania skipper Popescu is under investigation for
irregularities over striker Florin Bratu's move from Rapid
Bucharest to Galatasaray in 2003, the DNA said.
In 2006, Popescu admitted he had made a mistake and paid
$400,000 in tax for the sum pocketed from Bratu's transfer. He
resigned as a FIFA agent soon after.
The DNA said it had started the investigation after
co-operation with authorities from China, South Korea, the
Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
