The purported transfer of Carlos Tevez to Manchester
United has taken a fresh twist, with the news that an arrest order
has been issued for businessman Kia Joorabchian, the representative
responsible for the player's affairs.
A federal judge in Brazil has charged Joorabchian, amongst others,
with money-laundering and being part of a criminal gang, for the
role he played in the relationship between Media Sports Investment
(MSI), the company he fronts, and Corinthians, the Brazilian club
he first took Tevez to, before bringing him to England.
London-based MSI has been under investigation ever since it took
over Corinthians back in 2004, with Brazilian intelligence known to
have run thorough checks on the company.
"The (MSI) transactions are carried out with the use of numerous
offshore accounts which have the single and well-known intention of
distancing the investor and the illicit origin of the resources
from their final destination, in this case the purchase and sale of
(football) players," the federal attorneys Silvio Luis Martins de
Oliveira and Rodrigo de Grandis are quoted as saying on Brazilian
legal website consultor Juridico.
The detention of Corinthians president Alberto Dualib has also been
ordered, along with that of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky,
whose money is thought to have bankrolled MSI. Both face similar
charges.
News of Joorabchian's impending arrest has overshadowed the news,
revealed exclusively to Sky Sports News on Thursday, that Tevez
would wrap up his move to Manchester United in the next few
days.
Suspicions of corruption were raised by the failure of money
involved in the purchasing of players to be passed through the
country, in a chain of events which has manifest accusations of
money laundering. Both MSI and Corinthians have reportedly been
unable to clarify the origins of the money, which proceeded to lead
to the investigation, that has ultimately led to Joorabchian's
impending arrest and cast further doubts over Tevez's move to
United.
Joorabchian has been at the centre of the furore caused by Tevez's
switch to West Ham, which concluded at the campaign's end with the
Premier League club being fined £5.5million, having been found
guilty of third-party ownership.
Sheffield United, who feel they should be reinstated to the top
flight, at West Ham's expense, have taken the matter to the High
Court, but it would appear Joorabchian now has more pressing
affairs of his own.
