Cisse transfer - Under investigation
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:41 amTHE £14million transfer of striker Djibril Cisse to Liverpool is under investigation by French police.
Auxerre, his former club, was one of eight to have their offices raided by police last week.
And Cisse's move to Anfield last year figured among the paperwork to be carefully sifted for evidence of irregularities.
Defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, now with Newcastle, has his previous transfer to Rangers from Auxerre under the spotlight, too.
Both deals form part of a massive probe into alleged financial corruption in French football.
There is no suggestion Cisse or Boumsong were aware of any suspect dealings during their big moves into British football.
The man at the centre of the affair is agent Richard Bettoni, who briefly acted on Fulham's behalf at the instigation of former manager Jean Tigana. Cisse has always publicly praised Bettoni, involved in negotiations during his transfer to Liverpool, for the influence he has had on his football career.
However Bettoni is now being investigated for alleged fraud and money-laundering after a complaint to police by the French Football Federation.
Bettoni does not have the appropriate licence to operate as an agent but is said to have received money from deals through FIFA-registered Ranko Stojic, a former Serb international goalkeeper.
The clubs raided were Marseille, Troyes, Sochaux, Nice, Auxerre, Lille, Metz and Montpellier.
Directors from those clubs are expected to be interviewed very soon.
This follows police raids on the homes and offices of nine agents in March.
Auxerre, his former club, was one of eight to have their offices raided by police last week.
And Cisse's move to Anfield last year figured among the paperwork to be carefully sifted for evidence of irregularities.
Defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, now with Newcastle, has his previous transfer to Rangers from Auxerre under the spotlight, too.
Both deals form part of a massive probe into alleged financial corruption in French football.
There is no suggestion Cisse or Boumsong were aware of any suspect dealings during their big moves into British football.
The man at the centre of the affair is agent Richard Bettoni, who briefly acted on Fulham's behalf at the instigation of former manager Jean Tigana. Cisse has always publicly praised Bettoni, involved in negotiations during his transfer to Liverpool, for the influence he has had on his football career.
However Bettoni is now being investigated for alleged fraud and money-laundering after a complaint to police by the French Football Federation.
Bettoni does not have the appropriate licence to operate as an agent but is said to have received money from deals through FIFA-registered Ranko Stojic, a former Serb international goalkeeper.
The clubs raided were Marseille, Troyes, Sochaux, Nice, Auxerre, Lille, Metz and Montpellier.
Directors from those clubs are expected to be interviewed very soon.
This follows police raids on the homes and offices of nine agents in March.
