Anorthosis chief quits in fraud probe

THE president of high flying Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta yesterday resigned days after being arrested by police probing embezzlement allegations raised by fellow board members.

Andreas Panteli, 48, said his resignation took “immediate effect” while he promised to return any amount of money that was found owing to Anorthosis Famagusta following an independent audit.

He also pledged in a statement to “immediately return” any cheques belonging to the club that were issued in his name or may come into his possession.

The Anorthosis board said it accepted the resignation and would not take the matter any further.

“For reasons of general public interest we unanimously decided to withdraw the complaint against the former president without this being considered in any way an intervention into the investigation,” said a statement from the board.

Panteli was arrested last Friday — two days after Anorthosis drew 2-2 with Werder Bremen in the Champions League — by police looking into financial mismanagement involving €1 million and was remanded in custody by a Nicosia court for three days after a request for bail was denied.

Police are investigating a case of forgery, distribution of forged documents, theft, obtaining money under false pretences and trying to cover it up.

The high-profile football figure was accused by fellow executive members of obtaining €418,498 under false pretences and attempting to take another €500,000 in assets that belong to the club.

Champions League takings are also thought to be part of the missing money.

The probe came after Anorthosis drew with Werder Bremen 2-2 in the Champions League after letting slip a two-goal lead on November 26.

Last week, Panteli said he was “shocked and surprised” by the whispering campaign against him and that he had “nothing to hide”.

The Cypriot minnows are lying third in Group B of the Champions League and a win away to Panathinaikos in Athens next week would secure an unlikely berth in the last 16.