July 31, 2009
Romanian soccer club owner charged with blackmail
Posted by: admin : Category: Soccer news
The owner of one of Romanias top soccer teams was charged with blackmail and supporting a criminal group.
Organized crime prosecutors said Thursday that CFR Cluj owner Arpad Paszkany financed the media group Gazeta from 2004 to 2006 to promote his business interests and compromise rival companies.
Prosecutors say the publications ran libelous campaigns against companies and people Paszkany did not like. The publications also allegedly blackmailed companies to sign advertising contracts.
Prosecutors say the group financed by Paszkany threatened one of his opponents into selling him land worth $564,000 for just $14,000.
CFR Cluj played in the group stage of the Champions League last season, beating Roma and tying Chelsea.
