FIFA clear Arsenal over Beveren loan
FIFA have cleared Arsenal of any breach of ownership rules over their investment in Belgian club Beveren.
The BBC’s Newsnight programme revealed at the start of the month that the Belgian police were investigating a £1m (€1.4m) payment to the club, which they concluded had come from the north London side.
The Gunners, though, maintained the arrangement was purely on a football level, although confirmed that during 2001 funds were provided “by way of loan… to assist in stabilising the finances of Beveren.
FIFA have now looked into the matter and will not be investigating further.
A statement from football’s world governing body read: “After carefully analysing the documents and statements provided by the Football Association in relation to an alleged breach of club ownership rules by English club Arsenal FC and Belgian club VZW KSK Beveren, FIFA confirmed today (June 29) that there is no evidence or indication of any infringement of the relevant regulations.”
It continued: “The FA had already reached the same conclusion, having been requested by FIFA to investigate the case. Under the FIFA Statutes, it is the responsibility of the member associations to ensure that neither a natural nor a legal person exercises control over more than one club whenever the integrity of any match or competition could be jeopardised.
“In view of these findings, FIFA does not see any reason for further investigation or for any additional measures to be taken in this connection.”
The FA announced last week that they had "not identified any evidence" of any rule breach by Arsenal in relation to the Beveren payment.
A statement from the English club on June 1 read: “We do not normally make public our agreements with third parties. However, we can confirm we have had a technical relationship with Beveren since 2001.
“This relationship has a number of benefits to both clubs, such as providing a platform to share coaching methods and techniques as well as facilitating the option of players being loaned between the clubs.
“For example, during the course of the relationship, Arsenal players David Grondin, Liam Chilvers, John Halls and Graham Stack all spent successful loan periods at Beveren as did Emmanuel Eboue, who played in a number of trial matches with us whilst contracted to Beveren.
“Such was the latter player’s success, we subsequently signed Eboue on a permanent basis.”
Newsnight claimed to have seen a witness statement by Beveren chairman Franz van Hoof to the Belgian police claiming Arsenal were the main shareholder of NV Goal – which effectively controlled the Belgian club.
But Arsenal’s statement continued: “We confirm we have never owned, directly or indirectly, any shares in Beveren or had any power whatsoever to influence the club’s management or administration.
“We did in 2001 provide funds of 1,570,703 euros by way of loan to a member of a consortium who used the money to assist in stabilising the finances of Beveren.
“At no time has anyone at Arsenal been contacted by any regulatory or investigatory body with respect to our relationship with Beveren.”
The statement ended: “Arsenal and our staff have acted properly throughout, in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations, and in the best interests of Beveren, Arsenal and the broader footballing community.”
Under Rule 3, Section U of the Premier League, English top-flight clubs are prohibited from owning shares in, or making loans to, or being involved in the management of, another Premiership club or a Football League club, but those regulations are not relevant to a club based outside England.
