Marseille chief arrested over transfer
Labrune detained by police as part of investigation into transfer of Gignac; Caen, Nimes face expulsion for fixing.
Marseille President Vincent Labrune was put in custody as part of an investigation into the transfer of striker Andre-Pierre Gignac to the French league club in 2010.
Former club president Jean-Claude Dassier and Marseille director general Philippe Perez were also arrested, a police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, told The Associated Press.
Judicial officials are trying to find out whether the club leaders took illicit commissions when Gignac signed from Toulouse for a reported $20 million.
Dassier was the club’s president at the time, with Labrune in charge of all financial operations.
According to RTL radio, another former Marseille president, Pape Diouf, was also arrested as part of the investigation. Marseille officials were not immediately available for comment.
Caen-Nimes woes
Meanwhile, Caen and Nimes could be expelled from Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 respectively should match-fixing allegations be proven, the French League (LFP) president said.
Caen chairman Jean-Francois Fortin was among nine people arrested on Tuesday morning on suspicion of fixing the result of a game between his team and Nimes last season, allowing the southern club to stay in Ligue 2, according to a police source.
Nimes president Jean-Marc Conrad has also been arrested.
The game in question ended in a 1-1 draw on May 13 this year, allowing Nimes to stay in Ligue 2 while Caen virtually secured their promotion to the elite that day.