French police have searched the Finance Ministry's tax administration offices over allegations of favourable treatment granted to football club Paris-Saint-Germain over the transfer of Brazilian star Neymar, a source close to the investigation said.
Brazil's Neymar, Reuters/Adriano Machado/File Photo
French police have searched the Finance Ministry's tax administration offices over allegations of favourable treatment granted to football club Paris-Saint-Germain over the transfer of Brazilian star Neymar, a source close to the investigation said.
The source, who confirmed earlier reports of the raid by news outlet Mediapart, added that the raid was part of a bigger investigation.
Mediapart had reported earlier that the suspected favourable tax treatment was given to the club as part of Neymar's 2017 transfer from Barcelona to PSG.
The Economics and Finance Ministry declined to comment.
Paris-Saint-Germain did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
PSG is owned by Qatar.
Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout
Paris and several French cities descended into chaos on Saturday night as violent clashes erupted following PSG's Champions League final victory over Arsenal in Budapest, scenes that have become a grim ritual whenever the Qatar-backed club wins a major trophy.
Paris Saint-Germain have retained the Champions League title, defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw in the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, a result that marks the pinnacle of one of the most audacious nation-branding exercises in sporting history.
When Qatar's sovereign wealth fund quietly acquired Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on June 30, 2011, for an estimated €100 million, the stated ambition was clear: to project influence, reshape perception, and buy prestige on the world's biggest sporting stage.
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