ASSE received a visit from the Judicial Police on Tuesday 14 June. Investigators searched the club’s offices. An investigation for “illegal exercise of the profession of sports agent”, “aggravated money laundering” and “misuse of corporate assets” has been opened. It aims to transfer a player made in 2020.
After relegation to L2, the search of this Tuesday, June 14. The information was revealed by our colleagues from Parisian.
The search within the headquarters of AS Saint-Etienne lasted almost a whole day… It may seem long but nothing extraordinary. What is more is the pattern.
A preliminary investigation has been opened for ”illegal exercise of the profession of sports agent’‘, ”aggravated bleaching” et ”misuse of corporate assets”.
The investigation, led by the Bobigny prosecution, mainly concerns a players’ agent with whom the leaders of the Greens dealt during transfers.
But this agent, if he is affiliated with the FFF, French Football Federation, he is not licensed. One of the questions that arises is whether the leaders of ASSE knew this.
The police officers of the Nanterre Central Races and Games Service, which is part of the central direction of the Judicial Police, searched the offices of ASSE. The administrative and accounting documents have been combed through. They were supported by the judicial police of Saint-Etienne,
The Chairman of the ASSE Executive Board, Roland Romeyer, was heard as a witness.
”The club received the police very calmlysays a source close to the club. The players’ agent has all the guarantees of responsibility and respectability. He is an agent of the French Football Federation. When we buy a player, we make the transaction with the agent. But once the transfer is made, we don’t know what he does with his money. The club no longer has control”.
However, according to the first elements of the investigation, the agent would have paid his associates, who themselves are not agents.
Several players’ agents are in the crosshairs of justice. A source familiar with the matter specifies that at ASSE the investigators were interested in a particular transfer. The transaction between the club and the players’ agent in custody took place in 2020.
A priori it would be the agent of the attacking midfielder of ASSE, Adil Aouchiche.
Adil Aouchiche had arrived free with the Greens in 2020, from PSG. His contract ends in 2023.
But the club did not wish to confirm or deny that it is indeed that of Adil Aouchiche.
This is the first time the club has done business with this players’ agent affiliated with the FFF. This transfer, among others carried out by this agent, are at the heart of the investigation by the Parquet de Bobigny.
In addition to ASSE, SCO Angers is also concerned. Angers was visited by the judicial police on Tuesday June 14. The SCO also reacted by press release: “Heard as a witness, the SCO confirms having received, this Tuesday, June 14, at the headquarters of La Baumette investigators. The club has provided the necessary elements for the prosecution of this case for alleged facts related to the illegal exercise of the profession of sports agent, since 2017“.
The investigation will have to define if other clubs would also be concerned, potentially PSG and OGC Nice.
The written statement is very short. In its press release, ASSE confirms having received police officers from the SCCJ, the central service for races and games, “in the context of a preliminary investigation opened by the Bobigny public prosecutor’s office”. The club claims to have ”handed over to the investigators the elements they requested and responded to the requests. The club was heard as a witness on file in connection with the alleged illegal exercise of the profession of player’s agentrs”.
The Club regrets that this case falls at a time when buyers are interested in the sale of ASSE.
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