Super agent Zahavi charged in Belgium with forgery, fraud and money laundering

October 3 – Israeli football agent Pini Zahavi (pictured centre) has been charged in Belgium with forgery, use of forgeries, fraud and money laundering in relation to mismanagement at second-division club Royal Excelsior Mouscron, the federal prosecutor’s office said.

The prosecutor’s office has confirmed the news following reports by Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure. The powerful agent has been charged by an investigating judge in relation to Mouscron. Investigators have long believed that the club is controlled by Zahavi through a network of offshore companies. That would have also allowed him to illegally finance the club.

Two years ago, the club was placed under provisional administration because of suspicion of money laundering. Last season, Mouscron were relegated after years of financial struggles and, earlier this summer, Zahavi was questioned but later released.

Businessman Gerard Lopez, who had to sell Lille earlier this year, owns Mouscron. After seven match days in the second division, Mouscron sit at the bottom of the table.  At 78, Zahavi is still considered an influential agent. He was involved in Neymar’s record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

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