The Romanian Court of Appeal has sentenced Romanian businessman Ioan Niculae, owner of football club Astra Giurgiu, to two years and six months in prison, for his part in illegally financing a 2009 Presidential campaign. It is understood from local reports that the Court of Appeal found that Niculae had paid €150,000 to a member of the Social Democratic Party – in opposition in 2009 – in exchange for a perceived influence in government if the party was elected (which it was).

Niculae, listed by Forbes as Romania’s richest man, was ordered to pay back the sum. Astra Giurgiu (pictured), which plays in Romania’s Liga I, has denied reports that an insolvency firm has made a request demanding payments relating to the club’s players. ‘It is true to say that a request was made by an insolvency firm, however the club has presented its defence and we are confident that the court will assess the situation in Astra’s favour’, read a statement from the club. ‘This “forced advertising”, two months after the application was lodged with the court, has only one purpose: to put pressure on the court and affect our public image, and we consider that totally unjustified’.

It is understood from local reports that the request was made by a Portuguese company, OnSoccer International, relating to Pedro Santos and Yazalde Gomes Pinto, two players who Astra loaned from Sporting Braga in 2013 and 2014. During 2014, it is reported that two other creditors requested the insolvency of Astra, however withdrew their requests after they received the outstanding amounts. Of the 18 clubs in Liga I, seven are in insolvency: FC Rapid București, Universitatea Cluj, FC Oțelul Galați, FC Dinamo Bucureşti, CFR Cluj, FC Petrolul Ploiești and FC Braşov.