Category: News
Date: 01.06.2006
Printable version
Newsnight has been given exclusive access to a police investigation into a Belgian football club, with links to Arsenal, which is used to bring dozens of Ivory Coast footballers into Europe.
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The investigation was launched initially because the Belgian Police suspected the Russian mafia might be using Beveren, a small-town football club in Belgium and the centre of trade in players between the Ivory Coast and Europe, to launder money.
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This was later ruled out but their investigations revealed financial support to Beveren from Arsenal football club.
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The findings from the investigation will be aired on Newsnight on 91Èȱ¬ TWO at 10.30pm today (Thursday 1 June 2006).
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Arsenal admits to sporting links to the controversial club Beveren but has always denied any financial support.
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However Newsnight has been shown documents by the investigating magistrates including one showing an interest free loan agreement dated 10 August 2001 and signed by Arsenal Vice-Chairman David Dein on behalf of Arsenal Football Club PLC which shows that Arsenal put up money to take over the club.
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This contract Dein signed is for 12m Belgian francs or about £200,000.
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The investigators concluded that in all Arsenal had secretly handed over a million pounds in order to fund the take-over of Beveren football club.
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FIFA lawyers are now examining whether Arsenal have broken the rules.
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If any wrong doing is established Arsenal could face a fine or even suspension.
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The allegations in the programme have been put to Arsenal.
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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.
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"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."
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Beveren was used by Arsene Wenger's close friend Jean Marc Guillou to bring players from the Ivory Coast into Europe from an academy in Abidjan which he had helped to set up in cooperation with the local ASECs Football Club.
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The academy produced the Arsenal stars Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue and Salomon Kalou who has just moved to Chelsea.
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Nearly half the Ivory Coast World Cup squad are graduates of the ASECs academy.
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A few were sold directly to European clubs but restrictions on imports of players from Africa prevented further sales.
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The acquisition of cash-strapped Beveren allowed Guillou to take advantage of Belgium's relatively lax rules and get his players into Europe.
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Emmanuel Eboue took the Beveren route to Arsenal. Others were sold on to teams all over Europe.
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Rumours spread in Belgium that Arsenal was secretly behind the takeover but this was strongly denied by Wenger and Guillou.
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Wenger told the Belgian press "there is no question of financial support" and "this is not allowed".
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Guillou said: "No, the money did not come from Arsenal, because according to the rules Arsenal is not allowed to own shares in two football clubs at the same time."
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Beveren refused to say where the money was coming from.
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Investigating magistrates in the Belgian town of Denedermonde investigated in case it was mafia money-laundering.
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The investigators forced Beveren to hand over all documentation and interviewed key individuals but dropped the investigation when it became clear there was no mafia involvement.
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Newsnight has also seen a witness statement by Beveren Chairman Franz Van Hoof to the Belgian police saying that Arsenal was the main shareholder of NV Goal which effectively controlled the club.
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According to the Dein contract Arsenal would make an interest free loan to Goal to take over the club and Arsenal would be repaid from Beveren's payments to Goal.
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Another Director of Beveren told us that in return for the million pounds Arsenal's representative was given 50% control and Wenger's friend Guillou another 30%.
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It was agreed that most of the money raised in transfer fees would not go into Beveren. 40% would go to Goal and 30% to Guillou.
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