Planned Russian takeover of Roma stalls over probe

A planned takeover of Serie A club AS Roma by Russian company Nafta Moscow has stalled because of an Italian probe into false accounting, according to a lawyer representing the company.

“The negotiations were called off at 3am” Salvatore Trifiro said yesterday.

“We were in the phase of closing the deal when the news arrived regarding these investigations by the finance police into the accounts of the various clubs.

“At that point the Russians, who had come to Italy to invest hundreds of millions of euro, got cold feet.”

Italian newspapers had reported the Russian company had agreed with Roma president Franco Sensi to pay €400 million for the 2001 Italian champions.

But a wide-ranging investigation ordered by Italian magistrates on Thursday into transfers, player salaries and tax payments by clubs in Italy’s top two divisions persuaded the Russians to step back.