Fifa has launched a probe into whether Arsenal have broken
regulations which may leave the club exposed to possible expulsion
from the Champions League. BBC Newsnight has learnt that a police
probe in Belgium has concluded Arsenal made secret payments of £1m
to Beveren. Arsenal have admitted providing a loan to Beveren, but
say they have never had a controlling influence over the club. Fifa
is investigating whether Arsenal have breached rules governing fair
play and conflict of interest. It was a mystery payment of one
million pounds to an obscure Belgian football club in 2001 which
sparked off a money-laundering investigation. A company with no
name wanted to invest a million pounds in the club. The club,
Beveren, was in desperate financial straits and they refused to say
where the cash had come from. Christian du Four, the Investigating
Magistrate in the Flemish town of Dendermonde, told Newsnight, "A
company with no name wanted to invest a million pounds in the club.
We thought it rather bizarre." At the same time the team threw out
most of its Belgian players and replaced them with unknowns from an
academy in Ivory Coast, West Africa. Belgian police suspected the
fog of secrecy was hiding mafia involvement. Instead after an
investigation they have told Newsnight that they found Arsenal's
secret hand behind the money. Arsenal has a public deal with
Beveren to play friendly matches and loan players but Arsenal
repeatedly denied that they put money into the club. Arsenal now
admit that they did loan money, indirectly, to Beveren. An Arsenal
spokesman said "Arsenal confirms that it has never owned, directly
or indirectly, any shares in Beveren or had any power whatsoever to
influence its management or administration. It did in 2001 provide
funds of 1,570,703 euros by way of loan to a member of the
consortium to assist in stabilising the finances of Beveren."
Reading from his investigation, Mr Du Four said: "Jean Marc Guillou
who is the manager of Beveren has very close contacts with Arsene
Wenger the coach of Arsenal and that is why they went ahead with
the contract." He then highlighted one contract signed by Arsenal
Vice-Chairman David Dein. The contract (Document B) shows Dein
agreeing to advance 12 million Belgian francs (around £200,000) on
behalf of Arsenal Football Club in an interest free loan to an
associate of his called Raoul de Waele. The loan was to establish a
company called Goal which would take over control of Beveren
football club. The loan and other money advanced by Arsenal would
be repaid out of Goal's share of transfer profits. Du Four says
that in all Arsenal put in £1m. A director of Beveren, who did not
wish to be identified, told Newsnight that in return for the £1m de
Waele was given 50% control of Beveren and Guillou was given
another 30%. Fifa President Sepp Blatter told BBC Radio Five Live
"Let Arsenal give the Football Association their report. It will be
then be reported later to Fifa but for the time being I am not in a
position to make any comments about what punishments or sanctions
should be taken against a club." If Arsenal secretly controlled
another club, especially one such as Beveren who they bought
Emmanuel Eboue from, they could be in breach of FIFA rules and
could be heavily fined or even thrown out of the Champions
League.
Source from http://www.football-rumours.com/
Wth? If arsenal found guilty..oh man..can be thrown out of CL?!
