By Samindra Kunti
October 22 – The former president of Belgian club RAEC Mons, Domenico Leone, is facing criminal prosecution as justice suspect him of misappropriating subsidies from the local authorities of up €1.2 million.
The club was founded in 1910 as Olympique Mons, but was renamed Albert-Elisabeth Club de Mons with the explicit permission of the royal court to honor the marriage of Belgian King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth.
Last February RAEC Mons, playing in the second division, filed for bankruptcy at the local commercial court after prolonged financial difficulties and with no new investor stepping forward Mons was officially declared bankrupt in March.
“I was the chairman of Mons for 14 years,” said Domenico Leone at the time. “I feel emotionally connected to the club and I made big investments. For a few years now my presidency has entailed investments for the development of the club, the first team and the youth complex.”
At the end of 2014 Leone had already hinted that Mons were in financial trouble. Leone injected €420,000 in Mons this season, but by November the club was in need of another €1.5 million. Mons estimated a revenue stream of €1.8 million for the 2014/15 season, but expenditure was running at €3.3 million.
For nearly 14 years Leone was chairman of Mons, investing predominantly his own private capital, but now he is suspected of misappropriating subsidies, worth over €1 million, granted by the Walloon Region. Leone argues that he always acted in good faith. By law he could face a prison sentence of up to five years.
Leone’s court date has been set for tomorrow October 23.
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