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Post by QPR Report on Apr 14, 2009 12:50:04 GMT
In Romania: AP - FC Arges owner, head of referees arrested
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -The owner of FC Arges and the head of Romania's refereeing committee were arrested Tuesday on bribery charges related to match fixing.FC Arges' Cornel Penescu and referee chief Gheorghe Constantin were taken into custody for 29 days pending an investigation in the southern city of Pitesti, where FC Arges is located, following a day of questioning by anti-corruption prosecutors. The two face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of paying or receiving bribes. Romanian president Traian Basescu on Monday praised Penescu's arrest saying it showed "the state institutions are doing their job.'' An investigation that began in 2008 alleged that Penescu paid sums ranging from $3,980 (?3,000) to $71,675 (?54,000) to four Romanian clubs to fix matches in FC Arges' favor, Pro Sport newspaper reported. Penescu allegedly paid a further $93,000 (?70,000) to Constantin to get the referees he wanted for games, the paper said citing prosecutors. Penescu declined to comment on the allegations and his lawyer has filed an appealed against his arrest. Constantin has also declined to comment on the allegations. Romanian soccer has reached a low ebb in recent months, with the national team failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, and domestic football rife with allegations of corruption and match fixing. FC Arges is currently 10th in the league. In the 2006- 2007 championship it finished 17th sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/wires/04/14/2080.ap.soc.romania.corruption.0238/index.html
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