Romanian Referees, Football Financer, Businessman Indicted For Corruption

On April 30, both Serea and Martis were placed under arrest for 29 days on charges of bribe taking and accessory to bribery. On May 11, Penescu and Facaleata were also placed under arrest for 29 days in the same case.

According to the National Anticorruption Department, on March 18, 2009, Serea received $21,000 from Penescu through Martis and Facaleata. In exchange for the money, Serea, the referee of the FC Arges-FC Steaua match on March 20, 2009, was to help the team financed by Penescu win the match and to apply disciplinary sanctions only to the other team’s players.