The alleged scam of UEFA funds involving Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique resurfaced after being reopened for investigation. The case focuses on the statements according to which the former head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, suggested redirecting UEFA funds to cover salary discounts for Barcelona players, Messi and stitched during the 19 -year -old pandemic.
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The former footballers of Barcelona Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique are again under the scanner for their presumed involvement in a scandal of corruption involving the former leader of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales and the president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin. The case concerns an alleged regime for the embezzlement of UEFA funds to cover the salary reductions of former Barcelona players during the Pandemic COVID-19.
According to the Digital Journal of Spain The objectiveOn Wednesday, the Court of Investigation Number 5 of Granada ordered an investigation against Messi, Pique, Rubiales and Ceferin against the allegations of corruption of business and influence the hawking.
Messi wanted to divert UEFA funds for personal benefit?
The investigation will take place in an alleged program of embezzlement of UEFA funds as part of which Messi and Pique have had meetings with the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales and Ceferin to discuss transfer of around 50 million euros.
According to the report in The objective, When the world of football was in shock from the financial crisis during the COVVI-19 crisis in 2020, Messi, Rubiales and Pique developed the financial scam. They had a virtual meeting in April 2020 where an agreement was concluded that the head of the then negotiating football federation negotiates with Ceferin to divert certain funds from the rights of broadcasting UEFA to compensate for the Barcelona players losing their salaries Due to the pandemic. To soften the agreement, Rubiales also suggested that players send a Barcelona shirt to Ceferin with autographs from all players.
It is important to note that Barcelona would have offered a wage drop of 70% to manage the economic crisis during the COVVI-19 pandemic.
The objective also disclosed audio of the alleged conversation between Rubiales and Ceeferin in which he explained his plans. “I send you this audio with a message from Leo Messi. This is my voice, but his message, “said Rubials in one of the audios.
Rubiales proposed to Ceferin that UEFA RFEF funds be redirected for the benefit of Messi and other affected players. “I say it is important for us to have Messi and the rest with us. There is no need to spend money. We just change where the funds are going, ”Rubials said to Ceferin.
Has UEFA diverted the funds to Messi?
There is no evidence that UEFA has diverted the funds to Messi or any other Barcelona player. However, the audio disclosed and the investigation report created an environment in which fans began to doubt the ethics of football administrators.
Regarding the next stage of the investigation, agencies will receive five days to continue the case. Based on their conclusions, they will decide to take legal proceedings against Messi, Pique, Rubiales and Ceferin.
