not everywhere· Security· Updated 10:56

Financial Probe Targets Top Israeli Soccer Club Over Alleged Fraud

The Israel Police have launched a public investigation into suspected financial crimes totaling tens of millions of shekels linked to a Premier League soccer club. Four key suspects, including the club's owner, were arrested on Sunday following a covert investigation that lasted for several months.

5 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 06:54

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Financial Probe Targets Top Israeli Soccer Club Over Alleged Fraud — Illustration by baba

What happened

01Four key suspects, including the club's owner, were arrested on Sunday in a multi-million shekel soccer fraud investigation.
02The investigation targets an Israeli Premier League soccer club and involves systematic financial offenses spanning four seasons.
03The alleged offenses include fraud, forgery, money laundering, tax evasion, and failing to report player salaries to tax authorities.
04Dozens of current and former players from the club are expected to be summoned for questioning in the coming days.
05The covert investigation was conducted for several months by the Lahav 433 national economic crimes unit before going public.
06Police seized luxury vehicles and real estate as part of the ongoing financial probe.
07The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the Tax Authority, the Israel Football Association, and other state bodies.

The probe, conducted by the Lahav 433 national economic crimes unit, is examining systematic offenses allegedly committed over four seasons. The allegations include fraud, false corporate record-keeping, forgery, money laundering, and tax evasion, as well as violations of national insurance and wage protection laws related to unreported player salaries.

Investigators have seized luxury vehicles and real estate as part of the operation. In the coming days, dozens of current and former players from the club are expected to be summoned for questioning regarding the club's financial management and payments.

The investigation is a joint effort involving the Israel Police, the Tax Authority, the Israel Football Association, the National Insurance Institute, the Companies Authority, and the Justice Ministry. A defense lawyer for the suspects criticized the police for releasing details to the media before formal charges were presented.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 5 newsrooms. Updated 12:17

Latest report: Al-Shams. Read Al-Shams’s original