Slovak FA deputy director Wänke has denied taking a bribe from ŠK Eldus Močenok FC owner Stanislav Szabo, claiming he never touched the money until the police arrived, and that Szabo simply slapped the envelope on his desk.
Szabo offered to cooperate with the police Anti-Corruption Office after years of having to pay off senior FA officials.
“He got Sk5,000 from me on a regular basis, every time a player joined our club over the past seven years,” he said. “But this time it made me want to puke, so I told the police about it. They didn’t want to believe me but I told them I would prove it. Corruption goes right to the top, and I hope I’ve done enough to prove that even the biggest fish are on the take.”
Wänke said at a press conference on March 7 that he would start criminal proceedings against Szabo for defamation. Szabo responded by saying the whole incident was filmed by a hidden camera.
If Wänke is convicted, he will face 3 to 8 years in prison.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
