By Jaroslaw Adamowski
September 10 – Gigi Becali, the controversial owner of Romanian football club Steaua Bucharest, is reportedly planning to leave the troubled side and purchase a new club competing in the country’s top tier Liga 1.
The Romanian businessman, who was released from jail earlier this year after serving about 14 months for multiple crimes, unveiled plans to cut his financial support to Steaua and sell the club following the side’s weak performance in the European cups this season. Steaua was eliminated from the Champions League third preliminary round by Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade.
Last year, Romania’s Supreme Court banned the side, which formerly competed as Steaua Bucharest, from using the name and the club badge after it lost a legal battle with the Romanian Ministry of Defence.
Becali’s potential acquisitions include three local sides. These include Astra Giurgiu, FC Voluntari and Petrolul Ploesti.
The latter club has €6 million in debts, and to cover it, according to the information obtained by the broadcaster Digi Sport, Becali aims to obtain €3 million from the Romanian municipality, and a further €3 million from TV broadcasting rights.
Astra Giurgiu is currently leading the Liga 1, with 20 points obtained from 9 matches.
Following the 2014/2015 season, FC Voluntari secured a promotion to the Romanian top tier for the first time in the club’s history.
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