A group of senior executives and management figures from Romania's top football clubs have been sentenced to between three and eight years in prison for their part in a transfer case, according to the local press. Yesterday (November 12 ), a delayed Court of Appeal ruling upheld the decisions handed down following charges originally brought by the country's anti-corruption prosecutors in 2008.

Among those sentenced were FC Steaua general manager Mihai Stoica, who got four years in prison, Gloria Bistrita club president Jean Pădureanu got three years, FC Rapid majority shareholder and businessman George Copos, who received a five year sentence and former FC Dinamo shareholder Cristian Borcea was sentenced to seven years in jail. Also convicted were Steaua boss and MEP Gigi Becali's cousins, brothers Ioan and Victor Becali. As well as jail time, the court also imposed bans from involvement in football and other probationary measures. Sentences in full are – Ioan Becali – eight years in jail, Victor Becali and Cristian Borcea – seven years each, George Copos – five years, Mihai Stoica – four years, Jean Pădureanu, Gică Popescu and Gigi Neţoiu – three years each. The Court's decision can be further appealed.

The case concerns irregularities in the transfer of football players between 1999 and 2005 from major Romanian teams Dinamo Bucureşti, Rapid Bucureşti, Gloria Bistriţa and Oţelul Galaţi. The 12 big international transfers also involved some well known clubs in the football world, such as Ajax of the Netherlands and English team West Ham United. Those sentenced were found guilty of carrying out illegal transactions during the transfers, which cheated the state out of USD 1.5 million and the ripped off the four Romanian clubs to the tune of USD 10 million.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com