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Dirty money in football

At least one professional football club is under investigation for money laundering, the security minister has told MPs. Ben Wallace criticised the football authorities for failing to raise alerts about suspicious behaviour.

Football has been identified by financial investigators as a prime target for money laundering because of its international transfers involving agents, managers and other intermediaries. 'Dirty' money could be used to buy a player or a club. When the club or player is sold, the money is apparently clean

A number of football executives were charged with money laundering after the Fifa corruption scandal. Last year Jorge Luis Arzanga, an Argentine who worked for Credit Suisse and Julius Baer banks in Switzerland, pleaded guilty in New York to a money laundering plot. This involved transferring at least $25m in bribes from a sports marketing agency to football officials using accounts at the banks he worked for.

Criminals can also become involved in betting rings. This month the authorities in Belgium raided top flight clubs and charged 19 people with offences linked to money laundering and match fixing. They included two referees,football agents and the Club Bruges coach Ivan Leko.

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