The National Anti-Graft Department (DNA) confirmed on Friday that a criminal investigation was opened against the football financer of the Steaua Bucharest club, Gigi Becali. Prosecutors say that the file also involves Anton Dobos, president of the „Universitatea Cluj” football club, Teia Sponte, Becali's collaborator who carried the money to the CFR Cluj - Universitatea Cluj game, intending to bribe Dobos and his players, as well as Traian Bendorfean, a close friend of Dobos. DNA thus confirmed the information about Becali being under criminal investigation in the 1.7 million euro bribe attempt.
The first bribe-related crime of Gigi Becali took place in 2006, when Becali made a firm promise to the players of FC „Gloria 1922 Bistrita”, offering 5,000 euro per player in case of an even score and 10,000 for a victory, in a game against Rapid Bucharest.
In the second case, the scandal that burst this week, Becali, according to the prosecutors, offered directly and indirectly, 1.7 million euro to Dobos Anton, president of the „Universitatea Cluj” club, as well as to players of the team, in order to stimulate them to play at their best in the last game of the championship. Should Universitatea have managed to obtain an even score, Becali's team, Steaua, would have become champion.
The 1.7 million euro was found on one of Becali's close collaborators, Teia Sponti.
The prosecutors tried to call Becali to hearings, but the trashed the first subpoena and threw it in the street, in plain sight of the prosecutors. A policeman tried to hand the subpoena at Becali's home, but the controversial businessman announced that he's not there. His bodyguard refused to accept the document, the policeman being forced to drop it in the letterbox.
Becali publicly announced that he will go to the hearings when he has time to spare. Th
