developing· Security· Updated 07:52

Dozens of Millions of Shekels Suspected Embezzled by Israeli Soccer Club

The Israel Police's Lahav 433 unit and the Tax Authority have launched a major investigation into a top-tier Israeli Premier League soccer club, arresting four key suspects on Tuesday. The suspects are accused of orchestrating systematic financial crimes and corruption totaling tens of millions of shekels over four seasons.

4 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 07:01

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Dozens of Millions of Shekels Suspected Embezzled by Israeli Soccer Club — Illustration by baba

What happened

01The Lahav 433 unit and the Tax Authority arrested four suspects on Tuesday over a major corruption scandal at an Israeli Premier League soccer club.
02The alleged financial crimes occurred systematically over four seasons and involve tens of millions of shekels.
03Suspected offenses include fraud, forgery, money laundering, tax evasion, and undeclared salary payments to players.
04The investigation is a joint effort by the police, the Tax Authority, the Israel Football Association, and other government bodies.
05Authorities seized luxury vehicles and real estate as part of the enforcement actions.
06The identities of the four arrested suspects are under a gag order for at least 48 hours.
07Dozens of current and former players from the club are expected to be summoned for questioning in the coming days.

The investigation, which began as a covert probe several months ago, is a collaborative effort involving the Israel Football Association, the Tax Authority's "Yahalom" unit, the National Insurance Institute, and the Corporations Authority. The suspected offenses include fraud, false corporate record-keeping, forgery, money laundering, tax evasion, and violations of national insurance and wage protection laws, specifically regarding undeclared salary payments to players.

During the operation, authorities seized luxury vehicles and real estate belonging to the suspects. The identities of the four main suspects are currently under a gag order for at least 48 hours. Investigators plan to expand the probe in the coming days by summoning dozens of current and former players from the club for questioning and testimony.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 08:01

Latest report: Bizportal. Read Bizportal’s original