Prosecution expands Football Mafia case

The Belgrade District Court has expanded its investigation against former Red Star FC executives Dragan Dzajic and Vladimir Cvetkovic. The announcement came yesterday. The pair, along with another former Red Star official, are suspects in a fraud and abuse of office case linked to a number of transfers, including that of former Red Star footballer Perica Ognjenovic to Real Madrid. Prosecution expands Football Mafia case Ognjenovic moved to Real Madrid under a contract worth USD 3mn, but received only USD 2mn. Dzajic and Cvetkovic are suspected of illegally gaining USD 1mn from the transfer A judge in charge of the case decided to expand the investigation, even though Wednesday he only heard the defense of the former Red Star secretary general, Cvetkovic. Dzajic was unable to appear before the judge, since he has been hospitalized at the Belgrade’s VMA since April 23. Cvetkovic, who was taken back to Belgrade’s Central Prison, CZ, left the court yesterday smiling, without handcuffs, but escorted by a police officer. He had some trouble walking, so he leaned on his attorney Novak Lukic, reports said. Dzajic, Cvetkovic and Milos Marikanovic, all former Red Star FC officials, were arrested on February 5. Two days later the trio was under investigation for suspected embezzlement of EUR 5.1mn in another transfer, that of Goran Drulic to Real Zaragoza in 2001. The court first expanded the investigation against Dzajic and Cvetkovicin the alleged DEM 3.5mn fraud following the transfer of Zoran Njegus to Atletico Madrid. Then, Dzajic and Marinkovic faced a new probe, over Nemanja Vidic's transfer to Spartak Moscow, suspected of earning them EUR 2mn of illegal money.

Prosecution expands Football Mafia case

Ognjenović moved to Real Madrid under a contract worth USD 3mn, but received only USD 2mn.

Džajić and Cvetković are suspected of illegally gaining USD 1mn from the transfer

A judge in charge of the case decided to expand the investigation, even though Wednesday he only heard the defense of the former Red Star secretary general, Cvetković.

Džajić was unable to appear before the judge, since he has been hospitalized at the Belgrade’s VMA since April 23.

Cvetković, who was taken back to Belgrade’s Central Prison, CZ, left the court yesterday smiling, without handcuffs, but escorted by a police officer. He had some trouble walking, so he leaned on his attorney Novak Lukić, reports said.

Džajić, Cvetković and Miloš Marikanović, all former Red Star FC officials, were arrested on February 5.

Two days later the trio was under investigation for suspected embezzlement of EUR 5.1mn in another transfer, that of Goran Drulić to Real Zaragoza in 2001.

The court first expanded the investigation against Džajić and Cvetkovićin the alleged DEM 3.5mn fraud following the transfer of Zoran Njeguš to Atletico Madrid.

Then, Džajić and Marinković faced a new probe, over Nemanja Vidić's transfer to Spartak Moscow, suspected of earning them EUR 2mn of illegal money.