Arsenal face FIFA probe

Police in Belgium have discovered that the London club made secret payments of up to one million pounds to small Belgian club Beveren when it ran into financial trouble.

Beveren would not say where the money had come from and Arsenal - despite having a very public deal with Beveren to loan players and play friendly matches - have long denied any connection until now. The revelation could contravene FIFA rules concerning conflict of interest.

Investigating Magistrate Christian du Four said, "A company with no name wanted to invest a million pounds in the club. We thought it rather bizarre." Jean Marc Guillou, the coach of Beveren, is known to be close to Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.

The team discarded the majority of its Belgian players in favour of promising youths from an academy in the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Emmanuel Eboue was one player who arrived via this route.

An Arsenal spokesman said on Thursday, "Arsenal confirms that it has never owned, directly or indirectly, any shares in Beveren or had any power whatsoever to influence its management or administration. It did in 2001 provide funds of 1,570,703 euros by way of loan to a member of the consortium to assist in stabilising the finances of Beveren."

Chairman David Dein was directly involved in one contract to loan £200 000 to a third company, Goal, set up by Raoul de Waele. This and other money advanced by Arsenal would be repaid out of Goal's share of transfer profits.

A director of Beveren, who did not wish to be identified, said that in return for the £1m de Waele was given 50% control of Beveren and Guillou was given another 30%.