Romanian Football Federation Suspends Football Moguls Over Corruption Scandal

The Discipline Commission of the Romanian Football Federation, or FRF, Wednesday decided to suspend FC Steaua owner, Gigi Becali, and FC Universitatea Cluj president, Anton Dobos, and ban their access “on any stadium” for a two-year period.

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"Under article 60, section 2, letters “a” and “b,” Gigi Becali was banned from unfolding any football-related activities, was denied access on any stadium for a two-year period and fined RON200,000. Under article 60, section 2, letter “a” and “b,” Anton Doboscu was banned from unfolding any football-related activities, was denied access on any stadium for a two-year period and fined RON200,000," according to Daniel Marin Cernat, head of the Discipline Commission.

On May 9, the National Anticorruption Department (DNA) placed Steaua Bucharest officials Gigi Becali and Teia Sponte, as well as Dobos and one of his cronies, Traian Bendorfean, under criminal investigation for corruption.

Becali is probed on two counts of bribery, Dobos for bribe taking, Sponte for accessory to bribery and Bendorfean for accessory to bribe taking.

"As a result of inquiries conducted, in the decision for the start of criminal investigations prosecutors mention that on May 11, 2006, Becali George, owner of Romanian football club Steaua Bucharest, made a solid promise to the players of football club «Gloria 1922» Bistrita, offering them EUR5,000 each for a tie and EUR10,000 each for a victory in the game against «Rapid Bucharest» which was set to take place the next day," the prosecutors stated, referring to the first act of bribery for which Becali is probed.

The second count of bribery refers to the period of time between May 5 and May 7, 2008, when Becali "offered directly and indirectly" the sum of EUR1.7 million to Dobos, as well as to several Universitatea Cluj players, so that the club “would correctly defend their game chances and do everything possible to obtain at least a tie in the game against «CFR 1907 Cluj», Steaua’s opponent for the championship title.

Thus, on May 7, 2008, Sponte was found in Cluj in possession of EUR1.7 million, money that the prosecutors seized.

Mid-May, Gigi Becali said on television channel Sport.ro that his people had EUR1.7 million of his money, but the money was not meant for Universitatea Cluj players, stressing he was planning to buy a land in Cluj.

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