Professional football club being probed over money laundering claims, minister reveals
Security Minister Ben Wallace told MPs the sports industry “is as susceptible as anything else” to being used to hide the source of dirty cash
At least one professional football club is under investigation for alleged money laundering, a Minister has sensationally revealed.
Security Minister Ben Wallace told MPs the sports industry “is as susceptible as anything else” to being used to hide the source of dirty cash.
Speaking at the Commons Treasury Select Committee, campaigning Labour MP John Mann asked him: “When it comes to money laundering, how many professional football clubs have been deemed as requiring investigation currently?”
Mr Wallace said: “I know of (a) professional football club or clubs under investigation.
“I couldn’t reveal how many and what they are, for that is an operational matter.”
Pressed about the number of clubs caught up, he refused to disclose further details for fear of jeopardising ongoing probes.
Former Army officer Mr Wallace replied: “There are live investigations that go on all the time and to expand any more could threaten investigations.
“The sports industry is as susceptible as anything else to dirty money being invested or their organisations being used as a way to launder money.”
It can take years for such investigations to be completed, he warned the committee.
Mr Wallace said suspicious activity reports - a way to pass information to law enforcement about potential criminal activity by customers or clients - should be made “by anyone” and not just banks.
But “not enough” had come from football authorities, he said.
A National Crime Agency spokeswoman said: “We do not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations.
“We have not charged any professional football clubs with money laundering, and there are none currently in the court process.”
Criminals can also become involved in betting rings linked to the sport.
Earlier this month, authorities in Belgium raided a number of top flight clubs and charged 19 people with offences linked to alleged money laundering and match-fixing.
They included two referees, football agents and Bruges coach Ivan Leko, who is accused of money laundering, an allegation linked to a period before he joined the club that he denies.
Reports of money laundering in football first emerged in 2009 when it was claimed criminals were increasingly using football for money laundering and tax evasion.
Soccer’s global appeal and the multimillion-pound needs of clubs fuelled the attraction of dirty money, according to anti-corruption body Financial Action Task Force, an arm of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
“Football clubs are indeed seen by criminals as the perfect vehicles for money laundering,” the unit warned.
The sport was “an obvious candidate to examine money laundering through sport” because it dwarfed all other sports in its worldwide scale.
In one case investigators foiled an attempt to funnel cash through the purchase of a famous Italian club with funds provided by a criminal association operating in central Italy.
“Proceedings for money laundering, insider trading, extortion, unfair competition and other offences are ongoing,” it said, without naming the club.
A Football Association spokesman said: “First and foremost, money laundering is a criminal offence so if there were a case the police would be the primary agency for investigating.
“It’s not something we would comment on.”
