AIK investigates ten years of player deals after Bahoui ambiguities

Of: Michael Wagner, Robert Laul

Published: October 06, 2020 at 7:42 p.m.
Updated: October 06, 2020 at 8:18 p.m.

Photo: JESPER ZERMAN / BILDBYRÅN

Ebenezer Ofori and Björn Wesström.

Following the ambiguities surrounding Nabil Bahoui’s transfer from AIK to Al Ahli SC in 2015, the club is now conducting an investigation into all major transfers from the last decade.

– When the research gives us a general picture, we will comment further on the subject, CEO Björn Wesström tells Sportbladet.

The investigation is being carried out in collaboration with an outside attorney, AIK writes in a press release. Then appropriate steps should be taken to clarify routines.

“The job spans a longer period of time and during this time several different people have held leadership positions in the club. Therefore, those involved in the investigation should speak with various former officials and board members to obtain a complete picture of AIK Football’s relationship with various partners in relation to player transfers, “the club writes.

Sportbladet has reached out to CEO Björn Wesström, who declines further comment.

It started with reveal in DN

On Sunday, Dagens Nyheter revealed that an 800,000 SEK bill in connection with the transfer of Nabil Bahoui to the Saudi club had found himself in a drug craze in Stockholm in August 2020.

DN’s review showed that AIK may have provided information about an alleged mailbox company to the Swedish Football Association.

SvFF announced the day after investigating the new information.

– This is serious information, General Councilor Anders Hübinette told Sportbladet.

At the same time, police are warning that money from sports is increasingly going directly to gang crime.

– We see money going from sports and especially football to criminal networks, said Fredrik Gårdare, head of the police action group against sports-related crimes.

Partner of the soccer agent Cetinkaya

In the press release, AIK claims that the designated mailbox company represented the club in negotiations with Al-Ahli SC, but is a partner of soccer agent Hasan Cetinkaya.

“The person who represented SPM Sport Agency, and therefore AIK Football, in the audience was Hasan Cetinkaya,” writes AIK.

The AIK Football also points out that it takes very seriously that “the name of the club is linked to irregularities, since it is a fact that the club must always act in accordance with current legislation and current regulations”.

Following DN’s article, the Swedish Football Association has also requested clarification from AIK on the assignment of another company in connection with the player’s deal, Palm Eleven AG.

About that company, AIK writes in its press release:

“Agent Marco Lichtsteiner’s company, Palm Eleven AG, received a percentage in the next transfer when Nabil Bahoui renegotiated and extended his contract with AIK Football in 2014.”

Published: October 06, 2020 at 7:42 p.m.

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