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Cristiano Ronaldo agent offices raided in an anti-corruption investigation

2020-03-05T22:58:44.335Z


The Prosecutor General of Portugal says that it accused 47 entities, both collective and individual (including players, agents, lawyers and club managers), and has officially placed them ba…


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(Photo Patricia de Melo Moreira / AFP via Getty Images)

(CNN Spanish) - The offices of the largest clubs in Portugal: Benfica, Porto and Sporting de Lisboa, were raided this Wednesday by the Portuguese authorities as part of a massive anti-corruption investigation.

The offices of agent Jorge Mendes, who among his clients has Cristiano Ronaldo, were among the locations reviewed, according to several Portuguese media reports.

The Office of the Attorney General of Portugal says it accused 47 entities, both collective and individual (including players, agents, lawyers and club managers), and has officially placed them under investigation for suspected fraud and money laundering.

In a statement, the Prosecutor's Office confirmed that 300 officers, including more than 100 tax inspectors, 180 police officers and more than a dozen magistrates participated in 76 raids around the country.

As part of what the authorities call Operation Offside - translated as Operation Offside - investigators investigate transfers made since 2015, which are suspected of being "activities aimed at evading the payment of taxes to the State."

In separate communiqués, Benfica, Porto and Sporting de Lisboa confirmed that they are cooperating with the researchers.

Other Portuguese clubs, such as Sporting de Braga or Vitória de Guimarães, also confirmed that there were raids in their offices.

The Jorge Mendes soccer player representation company, called Gestifute, declined to comment.

Mendes has represented a large number of high-profile figures in football, including Tottenham technical director José Mourinho or Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

Mendes' lawyer, Carlos Osorio de Castro, was also asked, according to his office, that he confirmed searches in his facilities, but refused to add more details.

Spanish exporter Iker Casillas confirmed that investigators also went to his home and said he is cooperating with the authorities.

"Transparency is one of my principles," the former Real Madrid player wrote on Twitter.

In a statement to CNN, the Prosecutor's Office said they cannot provide more details about the houses and facilities that were raided, or who have been charged as formal suspects, since the investigation is still ongoing.

BenficaCristiano RonaldoJorge MendesOportoSporting Lisbon

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2020-03-05

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