Football: Police raid Italian clubs

POLICE investigating alleged transfer irregularities in Italy yesterday searched the offices of several leading clubs and visited the homes of a number of players.

The offices of the Uefa Cup holders, Juventus, as well as Torino, Milan and Internazionale were among those searched and documents relating to recent transfers removed. Police also visited property belonging to the Italian internationals, Dino Baggio and Gianluigi Lentini, and the homes of the Uruguayans, Carlos Aguilera and Marcelo Saralegui.

Baggio, of Juventus, and Milan's Lentini are former Torino players, while Aguilera and Saralegui play for the club, which is the focal point of an inquiry by a local public prosecutor into alleged tax fraud.

Torino's former president, Gianmauro Borsano, and his successor, Roberto Goveani, have been investigated over the transfer of Francesco Romano to Venezia in 1991. It is alleged a non-existent player was named as a makeweight in documents relating to the deal to conceal the actual amount of money changing hands.

Police also visited the Rome office of Torino's former managing director, Luciano Moggi, who now works for Roma.