Brussels – Since yesterday morning, there have been new developments in the Belgian football scandal. After banker and FC Antwerp president Eddy Wauters was released last weekend, Jef Jurion will probably leave the Vorst-Brussels prison today. The reason: both admitted to having carried out “illegal financial transactions,” and Anderlecht has also acknowledged being a partner in the black-money network.
Brewer Constant Vanden Stock, president of the Belgian club from Neermeerse, was questioned last night by investigating judge Bellemans for his involvement in the scandal. Vanden Stock has not (yet) been arrested, as he reportedly confessed to everything.
By this morning, Guy Bellemans had interrogated three Anderlecht officials: president Vanden Stock, manager Verschueren, and treasurer Berden. During the questioning, Vanden Stock admitted that “Sporting,” as Anderlecht is known, took part in the black-money circuit.
The black money deposited in Switzerland was used to pay players’ salaries and to finance the signing of the Paraguayan player Villalba (one of the first players to receive payment in this way).
For Vanden Stock and his associates, there was no point in denying anything anymore, as the famous notebook of Jurion (seized by Bellemans) contained the names and payment amounts of all those involved. Eddy Wauters acted in a similar manner to Jurion: he had deposited several million guilders in Switzerland, sources in Antwerp said last night. “We’re wondering whether Bellemans already knows everything. If he does, then things are looking bad,” they added. Last night, Jenó (Janó) Bekéffy, a football agent well known in football circles, also appeared before investigating judge Bellemans. Several other football figures will soon be summoned, and Bellemans is almost certain that they, too, will have no choice but to confess—just as Jurion, Wauters, Vanden Stock, Berden, and Verschueren have already done.