Fiscal Investigation Department accuses Ajax of tax fraud

28 May: The Dutch Fiscal Investigation Department (FIOD) has invaded the Amsterdam ArenA this morning. Ajax is under suspicion of having committed tax fraud in the event of the 1997 transfers of Shota Arveladze and Michael Laudrup to Amsterdam.

FIOD suspects that Ajax has payed both sums of money and presented those payments as tax free transfer fees instead of player salary, on which tax should be payed. It is said to be about a total sum of at least five million guilders (two million dollars). Ajax is also accused of forgery in the contracts of both players.

A number of Ajax employees, including Ajax-1 striker Shota Arveladze, were taken into custody for interrogation. "We are talking about a number of Ajax officials as well as players," said a FIOD representative. "They were taken into custody as suspects. We have also taken possession of parts of Ajax' bookkeeping. These documents may provide more insight in the payments."

Immediately after the invasion, Ajax requested the Amsterdam Stock Exchange to temporarily stop the trade in Ajax stock. FIOD has been investigating the possible irragularities at Ajax since December, 2000.

Ajax' treasurer, Arie van os, reacted surprised on Monday morning: "I don't know anything about this yet. That's not strange, since we have a management at Ajax. I think they first had contact with FIOD. I assume I will be informed about these matters shortly."

In November, 1991, Ajax was found guilty of tax fraud during the years between 1978 and 1985. Ajax was fined two million guilders, of which one million on probation. Several Ajax officials, including current general manager Arie van Eijden, got suspended prison sentences. (MP)

Source: Ajax.nl, Trouw