The controversial owner of Romania’s top football club, Steaua Bucharest, has been prevented from leaving the country, according to a media report on Monday, as he fights a raft of legal battles.
Gigi Becali, a former member of the European Parliament and a deputy in Romania’s ruling centre-left coalition, was held as he attempted to travel to Israel, legal sources told Mediafax news agency.
Prosecutors informed the millionaire businessman and politician, who has found himself in hot water recently for homophobic comments, that he was prevented from leaving the country.
Mediafax said Becali, 54, is the target of new graft charges.
The attempted trip came as the country’s high court was due later Monday to hand down a ruling on corruption charges against him which carry a possible jail sentence.
Becali was initially acquitted but anti-corruption prosecutors re-opened the case on appeal.
Last month, the European Court of Justice rapped Steaua, the legendary Romanian club, for comments made by Becali in which he essentially said he would never hire a homosexual player.
Rights groups have also accused him of racism.
Earlier this month, Steaua Bucharest clinched the Romanian title for the 24th time, their first national championship victory since 2006.
Steaua Bucharest owner stopped from leaving Romania
