Casa Pia accused of violating EU sanctions by receiving russian money

Casa Pia club, is alleged to have received more than €1 million from FC Akhmat, a russian club owned by Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya and a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

The news was reported on Friday by the newspaper Público, which had access to the Public Prosecutor's indictment: Casa Pia deliberately participated in a scheme to conceal the origin of the money from Montepio bank, thus circumventing European Union sanctions against russia and preventing funds from FC Akhmat from being frozen.

According to the indictment, Casa Pia and Tiago Lopes, the executive manager responsible for the transfer, knew that the movement of money was a direct violation of the sanctions approved after russia's invasion of Crimea. The charges relate to money laundering, document forgery and violation of restrictions.

The funds relate to the purchase of the sporting rights of striker Felippe Cardoso, a Casa Pia player since the 2022-23 season. russian club FC Akhmat, based in the Chechen Republic and part of the russian federation, showed interest in the player and reached an agreement with Casa Pia to pay €1.5 million, settled in two instalments: the first of €1 million and the second for the remaining amount. Kadyrov, who is not the club's president but its owner, is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States of America.

According to Público, the Public Prosecutor's Office indicates that the Portuguese club was warned that, by completing the deal, it would be violating European sanctions, so it was proposed that the transfer and payment be made by a company other than the club that was going to buy the player, an entity registered in the United Arab Emirates.

‘The following scheme is used: Akhmat pays Sila Marketing, Sila Marketing pays Sila International OMMC, and Sila International OMCC pays FC Akhmat's creditor,’ wrote the company's manager in an email quoted in the indictment, which, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office, shows that Casa Pia was aware that this was illegal.

Sila Marketing would receive a commission of 7.5% of the transferred funds. The agreement between FC Akhmat and Sila Marketing was signed on 25 June 2024.

According to Público, manager Tiago Lopes, a defendant in the case, was charged with three crimes: one for violating restrictive measures, one for money laundering and one for falsifying or counterfeiting documents. Casa Pia will answer for the same crimes in court if there are no changes in the investigation phase. The club's president, Vítor Franco, was not charged for allegedly only signing the transfer documents at the request of manager Tiago Lopes.

Felippe Cardoso did indeed play for FC Akhmat but only made 17 appearances for the russian club and is currently in China on loan to Henan FC, according to Público. In response to the newspaper, Casa Pia insists that it acted in ‘good faith’ and that the transfer was registered on FIFA's official platform.

"FC Akhmat is not an entity sanctioned by the European Union, nor is there any legally solid evidence that it is controlled by anyone covered by European restrictive measures. Furthermore, Casa Pia is unaware of this alleged link that the Public Prosecutor's Office establishes between the club and Kadyrov, since this name does not appear in any official corporate documentation relating to the club. The accusations are therefore based on incorrect factual and legal assumptions, not supported by solid evidence," the club defends itself in a statement sent to the newspaper.

It should be remembered that Ramzan Kadyrov is the president of Chechnya and has been a loyal ally of Vladimir Putin, having sent Chechen military personnel to Ukraine after the russian invasion.

Source: Euronews