Romania Turn Down Dodgy Becali Bonus

With the stench of corruption hanging over Romanian football this season, it’s nice to see the Romanian FA drawing a moral line in the sand.

Notorious Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali had offered up 5.5 million euros ($8.65 million) in bonuses to the Romanian national team, should they do well at Euro 2008. But the Romanian FA have said “thanks, but no thanks” to Becali’s offer.

FRF (Romanian FA) general director Ionut Lupescuhad had this to say to Becali’s and his 5.5m:

“We don’t need any bonus from Becali, who could invest his money to improve Steaua’s performance or help his club’s junior teams.”

You tell him Ionut. So why is Gigi Becali’s money not welcome I hear you ask? It can’t be just because he looks like the most notorious second hand car salesman that ever lived, could it? Basically Becali is under investigation for corruption and bribery in Romanian football.

“I will give the money to the national team to show the (DNA) prosecutors that I pay a team in order to do its best to win, not as a bribe,” Becali said.

So seems he’s trying to buy his way out of trouble by swaying public opinion the only way he knows how. With large sums of money.

Not very subtle. But at least this is a more convincing attempt to get himself out of trouble than the (probable) lie Becali told when his men were caught with 1.7 million euros and a representative from CFR Cluj on the same day that CFR Cluj were playing the big title-deciding game.

“They had 1.7 millions euros,” Becali told the local Sport.ro TV station. “I sent them (the four emissaries) to buy chocolate and candies (from Cluj)… I buy what I want. The money is mine and I may send them anywhere I want.”

Hmmm.