FIFA and UEFA alarmed by money-laundering threat

European football governing body is increasingly concerned that criminals may be using football to launder money either by buying into clubs or gambling on match results. Chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said on that UEFA was increasing its efforts to establish the source of the money pouring into the game and to stop European matches being fixed by Asian betting syndicates. "The whole idea of vast amounts of money coming into football presents us with an alarming situation, one that, because of modern technology like the internet, can cross borders and one that can be very difficult to legislate against. "There is the possibility that criminal gangs are trying to use soccer as a gigantic money-laundering machine and we have to stop this," Olsson told reporters.

UEFA has asked the European Union to look into the sources of the money entering European football and UEFA's top officials have met with MPs from the European parliament who works as the "Friends of Football" group.

"Because of the Champions League the popularity of football has grown significantly, especially in Asia where in China, Japan and even places like Nepal it is enormously popular," UEFA president Lennart Johansson said. "I have spoken to FIFA (world ruling body) president Sepp Blatter about my concerns that drug money and money from other gangsters is coming into football, that bribes are being offered to players and referees and that matches are being used by betting syndicates. "We recently had a case in Finland involving a club that had just been taken over. We have to be very vigilant but we, as a football authority, only have a limited amount of power. "It is up to national governments and authorities and the European Union to look at this situation too."

UEFA is also concerned about businessmen like Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who owns English Chelsea and has interests, although not directly, in other clubs. UEFA decided to open an investigation, which will look at transfers, the financial backing of clubs and betting patterns across the globe, which has been sparked by an article in Dutch football magazine, Football International. The 14-page report makes sensational allegations about Chelsea's transfer dealings and financial links with other clubs. "If this is a spider's web it is our job to unravel it. We are following up this article and other information we have received," UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson commented to media.

FIFA and UEFA are already working with legal and financial authorities around the globe to investigate the links between a network of clubs which include Chelsea, CSKA Moscow, PSV Eindhoven, Porto, Benfica and Corinthians.

"At the moment someone like Mr Abramovich is within the rules that exist on ownership, but we are reviewing our own legislation which at the moment prevents someone having a dominant position at more than one club," said Olsson. "We have to define what dominant position means and be more specific. We have to guarantee the integrity of the sport to the absolute best level we can."