Ex-Barca chief held over graft
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, May 24, 2017
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Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and his wife have been detained in connection with his businesses in Brazil, Spanish authorities said yesterday.
The detentions were part of a money-laundering investigation related to buying television rights for past matches of Brazil's national team. Three other people were detained, but their identities were not immediately released by authorities.
Police raided offices, homes and businesses in Barcelona and other locations in Spain as part of "Operation Rimet," a reference to former FIFA boss Jules Rimet, who also gave his name to the World Cup trophy from 1930-70.
Authorities said the operation looked into the alleged illegal payments received by Rosell and other people involved in promoting Brazil's games. Authorities said nearly 15 million euros (US$16.8 million) could have been laundered through tax havens.
Officials said the operation used information from the FBI following the US case against high-level FIFA officials in 2015. Rosell, a former Nike executive in Brazil, had close connections to the former president of the Brazilian football confederation, Ricardo Teixeira, who was mentioned in the indictment by American officials.
In a separate case in Spain, Rosell is to stand trial for fraud and corruption charges involving the transfer of striker Neymar from Brazilian club Santos in 2013. Prosecutors said the real amount of the transfer fee was concealed to benefit some of those involved. Neymar and his father will also stand trial.
Rosell resigned as Barcelona president in 2014, having taken over the club in 2010.
Also, a French official said police investigating suspected tax fraud have raided the headquarters of Paris Saint-Germain and homes of three Argentine players in France.
The official said anti-corruption police units searched the homes of PSG players Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore, and that of Nantes forward Emiliano Sala yesterday.
Police also raided the head offices of PSG at Parc des Princes and other offices in Boulogne-Billancourt.
The national financial prosecutor's office opened an investigation in December after so-called "football leaks" reports allegedly detailed tax arrangements by top players, coaches and clubs.
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