‘Football Leaks’ prompts French tax fraud probe

PARIS - French authorities have opened a preliminary inquiry into tax fraud and money laundering in the wake of the ‘Football Leaks’ revelations, the national financial prosecutor’s office announced Tuesday. “Football Leaks” is the investigation led by 12 European media organizations aimed at exposing the sport’s darker side, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho both accused of tax evasion in recent weeks - charges the pair deny. “Following the publication ... of a series of press articles regarding ‘Football Leaks’, the national financial prosecutor’s office decided to open ... a preliminary investigation into the charge of laundering of aggravated tax fraud, facts likely to relate to French tax residents,” read a statement. The wide-ranging probe of financial documents also claimed Paris Saint-Germain duo Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore funneled parts of their income through tax havens, while accusing Manchester United and France star Paul Pogba of stashing away money in the Channel Islands, at the request of his agent Mino Raiola. Shelvey banned for 5 games Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been banned for five games and fined 100,000 pounds ($123,000) for using discriminatory language toward an opponent during a game in England’s second-tier League Championship. Newcastle says Shelvey, an England international, was also ordered to attend an education course as part of the punishment handed down by the English Football Association. Shelvey denied the charge of misconduct. The incident took place near the end of Newcastle’s 2-0 home loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sept. 17. Shelvey was accused of using “abusive and/or insulting words” that included “reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or nationality.”