CONMEBOL accuses ex-presidents of money laundering
ASUNCION: The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) on Tuesday formally accused two of its ex-presidents of embezzlement, money laundering, forgery and other criminal charges lodged with Paraguayan prosecutors.
It said in a statement that it was pressing the charges against Nicolas Leoz and Eugenio Figueredo.
Both have already been indicted in the United States as part of a far-reaching corruption investigation into world football.
CONMEBOL said its legal unit had informed the heads of its 10 football associations of the legal action in Paraguay, where its headquarters are based.
It accused Leoz and Figueredo of damaging its finances through “abuse of trust, appropriation, money laundering, production of unauthentic documents and criminal association.”
CONMEBOL’s lawyer, Osvaldo Granada, told AFP that auditors had discovered “an operational mechanism maintained over time that strongly incriminates Nicolas Leoz and Eugenio Figueredo.”
The forensic accounting uncovered $28 million in bank transfers from CONMENBOL to personal accounts controlled by Leoz.
“Afterwards there were direct bank transfers to unidentified accounts for $33.3 million,” and other international transfers made with inadequate documentation to the tune of $58 million, supposedly for services, the lawyer said.
Another $10 million was paid to companies caught up in the United States’ so-called “FIFA-gate” investigation.
The appropriation of funds allegedly occurred between 2000 and 2015, he said, adding that the decision to go with charges was decided in a CONMEBOL congress in April.
Figueredo and Leoz have been kept under house arrest in their respective countries — Uruguay and Paraguay — pending investigations.
They are among nearly 40 international officials detained in the “FIFA-gate” scandal.
South American football officials have been heavily implicated in the US-led investigation into corruption in world football that led to the downfall of FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2015.
Investigations indicated that officials had pocketed millions of dollars in bribes for awarding sponsorship and marketing contracts.
Tapal CC steamroll Opera CC in KG Ramazan T20
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Another clinical performance from Tapal Cricket Club saw them topple Opera Cricket Club by eight wickets in a one-sided Group D encounter of the 32nd edition of the Omar Associates Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival Twenty20 Cricket Tournament 2016 here at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Put into bat, Opera CC collapsed after a solid start, losing their last wickets for 58 to be bowled out for 109 in 19 overs. Chasing a modest target of 110 off 20 overs, Tapal CC lost just a couple of wickets overhauling it with nearly seven overs to spare.
The Tapal CC spin quintet of Imran Ali (3-22), Rafay Safdar (2-18), Zeeshan Essa (2-25), Ali Mudassar (1-16) and Wasim Ali (1-28) bowled efficiently to skittle their opponents for 109 with only opener Usman Shah (21 off 21 balls) offering any worthwhile resistance.
Zakir Malik got Tapal CC off to a flying start, striking two sixes and three fours in breezy 31 off 13 balls, dominating the 35-run first wicket partnership in less than three overs. His opening partner Hafiz Asad remained undefeated on 30 off 32 balls while number three Daniyal Ahsan perished after scoring 44 off 32 balls. The Man of the Match, however, was clinched by their teammate Imran Ali.
Former Olympic hurdler Harris
charged with approaching teen
LOS ANGELES, California: Danny Harris who won Olympic 400m hurdles silver in 1984, was charged on Tuesday with allegedly sending inappropriate sexual messages to an underaged girl.
Harris, 51, pleaded not guilty to contact with a minor for a sexual offense, child abuse and to two misdemeanor counts of child annoyance.
The messages were sent to a student at Gabrielino High School in the Los Angeles suburb of San Gabriel, where Harris had been an assistant athletics coach. He was relieved of his coaching duties in May.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said the alleged messages were sent between April and May, and were discovered by a relative of the girl.
Harris, who was arrested on Friday, is due back in court on June 16 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
Harris finished second in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Olympics behind hurdling great Edwin Moses.
In June of 1987, he ended Moses’ 122-race winning streak in the event, but again finished runner-up to Moses at the World Championships later that year.
Giroud bemoans lack of playing time at Arsenal
LONDON: Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud has said he is unhappy with the lack of playing time he got last season, according to The Times, and with the Premier League club linked to a host of strikers across Europe the Frenchman may find himself even further down the pecking order.
Giroud, who was largely used as a substitute last season, netting 12 goals but starting just 11 league games, said he planned to discuss his future with coach Arsene Wenger.
“I’ll talk to the coach,” Giroud said.
“I had limited playing time but, at some point, there are things I will not be satisfied with —- another year with such low playing time. It will be necessary to think with my family and advisers.
“I still have three years with Arsenal, so my future is for now with Arsenal. I feel good, I want to win the championship of England. Afterwards, I do not know what my near future will be.”
Media reports previously linked Giroud, who signed a long-term contract extension at Arsenal in January, with French side Marseille.
