Soccer’s top body is facing tax probe
An investigation by financial crime squad officers into the accounts of the Hellenic Soccer Federation (EPO) has revealed several discrepancies, including over the whereabouts of large payments, which are being looked into further, sources told Kathimerini yesterday. Inspectors from the Special Investigations Service have allegedly discovered that several payments of 325,000 euros each were made to regional sports clubs as funding. However, these payments did not end up in the club’s bank accounts even though they have been recorded in their books. It was not clear how many such payments are under suspicion. Officials believe that these transfers ended up with third parties that have no connection with sports. Inspectors also found evidence of late payment of taxes and non-payment of a tax stamp for a contract that EPO signed granting some television rights to an unnamed company. This contract is now under further investigation and inspectors are also looking at the role of an agent and the involvement of a Cyprus-based company. Sources also said that the Economy and Finance Ministry is also considering whether checks should be run on the assets of several EPO officials after information emerged suggesting that there are some discrepancies between their earnings and their assets.
