For several months, the National Financial Prosecutor's Office has kept an attentive eye on certain sensitive files linked to the governance of the Professional Football League. A search last November, a parliamentary investigation launched in stride … And this Friday, July 4, a new thunderclap has just burst.
An explosive complaint filed with PNF
AC Association! Anticorruption has filed a new complaint with the PNF, this time targeting several major figures in French football, says the media Foot Amateur. And in this complaint, there are big names: Vincent Labrune, president of the LFP, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (PSG) but also presidents or former leaders of clubs like Jean-Pierre Rivère (Nice), Laurent Nicollin (Montpellier), Loïc Féry (Lorient), or Waldemar Kita (Nantes). Even deputy Karl Olive is cited.
The complaint speaks of a ” Vast scam aimed at diverting the resources of French football for the benefit of foreign private interests, mainly Qataris ». In detail, the complaint evokes a manipulation of TV rights for the benefit of beIN Sportsof a pressure around the company Pitch International, troubled links with Visit Qatar, personal enrichment, favoritism … The name CVC Capital Partners, financial partner of the LFP, also appears.
Heavy charges
The association denounces a “Centralization of power“Around the Al-Khelaïfi/Labrune duo, a system that would have made it possible to impose conditions unfavorable on clubs, while promoting certain actors close to Qatar. The accusations evoke scam in organized gang, extortion, illegal takeover of interests, laundering, breach of trust, tax evasion, and even violation of sports law.
Even Vincent Labrune's disputed re-election at the head of the LFP is pointed out, with suspicions of maneuvers with clubs to maintain the ex-president of OM in his post. We could well attend the start of a huge scandal in French football.
The reaction of the LFP
Following the publication of this information and this article, the LFP specifies: “While French professional football has taken a historic stage with the creation of its own chain, some relaunch a destabilization campaign, with rumors and slander. These attacks, relayed without verification, recall the attempts already observed two years ago. The LFP will not be intimidated or divert from its mission. It will not allow any untruth to pass, and reserves the right to act against any distribution of defamatory content. French football deserves better than these methods. »»
To summarize
AC Association! Anticorruption filed a complaint to the PNF against major figures of French football, including Vincent Labrune and Nasser al-Khelaïfi, accusing them of embezzlement of resources for the benefit of Qataris interests. The complaint evokes manipulation of TV rights, troubled links and accusations of scam and favoritism.
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