FAI open investigation into Athlone

**disgruntled** · 14/05/2017, 11:50 AM

As usual a well thought article from John O'Sullivan.
This part of the article really stood out for me.

"When any difficult child has an issue, they’ll look to their parent. Athlone have made it clear in their statements that the FAI knew exactly who was coming in to the club. If Athlone Town fans could use Google to determine the investors’ background, why couldn’t the Athlone Town board or the FAI?"

It shows what the board of Athlone & the FAI were willing to turn a blind eye to just to keep things going.
I can understand why a board of directors desperate to hold on to power would go to any lengths, there is absolutely no excuse why the so called guardians of the League of Ireland the FAI would condone such shady dealings.
If ones parent is a gangster then you can hardly blame the offspring from turning into a problem child

It also shows what a farce the whole Licencing system is.

**DannyInvincible** · 14/05/2017, 12:07 PM

Whilst I see that apparent "prime suspect" Igors Labuts is still being selected to start in goal for Athlone since the controversial Longford game, I note there's been no sign of Dragos Sfrijan (the Romanian midfielder who committed an apparent mistake that led to Longford's third goal after being moved into the centre of defence towards the end of the 90 minutes) in either of Athlone's match-say squads since. Sfrijan had started every game this season for Athlone before that game, as far as I can make out.

Has he gone AWOL or what's the deal there? Just dropped or is his absence an indication of something more dubious?...

Is there any footage of the Longford goals online, by the way?

Originally Posted by redobit

Do these cowboys own 100% of the club?

70 per cent, as far as I know.

From the piece on the Asia Times website mentioned in post #78:

Originally Posted by Richard Cook and Liu Hsiu Wen

It’s been a strange few months for Athlone fans. A year ago, the club was so short of cash that some players refused to play in one game in protest at unpaid wages. That all changed around early February this year, when an unidentified “Chinese Portuguese consortium” reportedly paid about US$500,000 for a 70% stake in the club. Suddenly, Athlone Town was stocked with foreign players and coaching staff. Unusual enough for Irish football, but more weirdness was to come.

**outspoken** · 14/05/2017, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Whilst I see that apparent "prime suspect" Igors Labuts is still being selected to start in goal for Athlone since the controversial Longford game, I note there's been no sign of Dragos Sfrijan (the Romanian midfielder who committed an apparent mistake that led to Longford's third goal after being moved into the centre of defence towards the end of the 90 minutes) in either of Athlone's match-say squads since. Sfrijan had started every game this season for Athlone before that game, as far as I can make out.

Has he gone AWOL or what's the deal there? Just dropped or is his absence an indication of something more dubious?...

Is there any footage of the Longford goals online, by the way?

70 per cent, as far as I know.

From the piece on the Asia Times website mentioned in post #78:

There's only footage of the second goal

**ATFC-1887** · 14/05/2017, 2:04 PM

They don't own any of the club. That article is wrong. And they didn't give 500 grand. Was only 70k

**DannyInvincible** · 14/05/2017, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

There's only footage of the second goal

You got a link?

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

They don't own any of the club. That article is wrong. And they didn't give 500 grand. Was only 70k

Cheers for the clarification. What is the exact arrangement so?

**NeverFeltBetter** · 14/05/2017, 2:38 PM

It's weird that none of this, regards club ownership and investment, appears to be clear or even accessible.

**outspoken** · 15/05/2017, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

You got a link?

Cheers for the clarification. What is the exact arrangement so?

Link - https://www.facebook.com/AthloneTown...6655016417354/

**Longfordian** · 18/05/2017, 1:31 PM

I see the people that own the stadium have involved the FAI with regard to the money they're owed by the club. Hard to see any other outcome other than the current entity leaving the league and a new fan owned club taking its place with a new lease on the ground. I know in theory Athlone are supposed to be a members club but clearly it isn't as simple as holding an AGM/EGM and voting out the current regime.

**nigel-harps1954** · 23/05/2017, 12:45 AM

https://www.facebook.com/ATAFCOffici...92873257529591

The Athlone Town Stadium was broken into over the weekend and damage was caused to some of the internal doors and locks.
A small amount of money was taken and a lot of files were ransacked and scattered around, club officials are currently going through these files to determine what, if anything, was taken.
We would appeal to anyone who has information in relation to this crime to contact Athlone Garda Station on 090 64 92600 and pass it on no matter how insignificant you may think it is.

Amazing.

**total hoofball** · 23/05/2017, 1:41 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

https://www.facebook.com/ATAFCOffici...92873257529591

Amazing.

It would be really unfortunate if any vital documents to the investigation just happened to be stolen

I'm sure the CCTV footage at the ground will capture the perpetrator. Not like Athlone could be any unluckier if the CCTV at the ground wasn't working that night or sumtin

**DannyInvincible** · 23/05/2017, 2:17 AM

I don't want to jump to any conclusions and maybe I'm being overly suspicious, but isn't it possible that someone on the inside (connected to the Portuguese investors/"owners") was behind this and was using an apparent crudely-executed burglary for cash as a cover to conceal any tracks or get rid of documentary evidence in the club's office that might expose or incriminate individuals involved in the betting scam? Seems like a really odd coincidence.

**pineapple stu** · 23/05/2017, 4:31 AM

You'd wonder alright if the file marked "betting scams" was the one stolen.

**Longfordian** · 23/05/2017, 7:15 AM

"Where will I put this paper file on the secret, illegal activities in China?" "Just stick it in the filing cabinet over there it'll be grand".

**NeverFeltBetter** · 23/05/2017, 8:34 AM

It's Always Sunny In Athlone.

**brendy_éire** · 23/05/2017, 9:03 AM

Presumably though, any important, relevant documents would already be in the hands of the FAI and their investigation team. At least, they should be.

**osarusan** · 23/05/2017, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I don't want to jump to any conclusions and maybe I'm being overly suspicious, but isn't it possible that someone on the inside (connected to the Portuguese investors/"owners") was behind this and was using an apparent crudely-executed burglary for cash as a cover to conceal any tracks or get rid of documentary evidence in the club's office that might expose or incriminate individuals involved in the betting scam? Seems like a really odd coincidence.

I'd say that's what everyone thinks.